Abstract

This personal essay explores how children’s media, particularly the TV show Doki and its song “Todos Somos Necesarios”, shaped my understanding of environmentalism care in the absence of education. It highlights the lasting impact of engaging accessible lessons from childhood and reflects on the importance of encouraging future generations to care for the planet.

[Draft]

Milenka Izquierdo

DR. L Carpenter 

FIQWS 10108

Sept. 16 2024

Simple things, go a long way

As young people, we know our world is in danger and need to take care of it and stop contaminating it, but why exactly? One might think we don’t even damage it. Or how can we even help? Why is the environment vital? As kids, we learn about the ecosystem, about all animals, plants, and vegetation in our environment. But are we taught how to protect it? Growing up, caring for the environment—how and why? wasn’t taken too seriously in my school. What set the foundation for my understanding of this topic was TV. Cartoons and TV series stuck with me, especially their songs. 
As a kid living in a city, I didn’t see the importance of nature. I knew I shouldn’t litter and
that we should recycle, but that was about it. Growing up there was a specific channel called
Discovery Kids. One of my favorites and also my parents’, though I didn’t understand why at the
time. Looking back, the channel was highly educational, but it was so subtly presented that I
didn’t realize how much I was learning.
The most significant lesson and motivation for caring for nature came from a TV show I
watched as a kid called Doki. The show featured a curious and optimistic dog and his friends, all
animals, and they were always dedicated to discovery and learning. Each episode involved an
adventure around the world, where they observed different vultures, learned about life, and faced
various obstacles, usually ending with a song that summarizes the episode’s main idea. I
probably heard this song when I was five years old; I am now 17, and I can still sing it word for
word. The song was called “Todos Somos Necesarios”, which translates to “We Are All
Important” in English. It highlighted the importance of various parts of our ecosystem—trees,
bugs, frogs, birds, etc—and why we should take care of them. I remember seeing it as a
commercial between shows. Although It might seem dumb or silly, what we watch as kids has a
profound impact on us. Since my school rarely provided this kind of education, TV series and
movies became my primary source for learning. That short music video has stayed with me until
now, as I’m almost an adult.
That song and other shows like Barney sparked a special interest in me. My favorite
cartoon and character influenced me far more than learning about plants in school with my
teacher. I felt a lot of curiosity about how nature around me worked, or if it was being protected.
I wondered if my local parks also had all these animals or plants that maybe I hadn’t paid
attention to before. It’s clear how impactful it was for me, even though it was a simple kids’ song.
My parents have told me that I was the one who started recycling at home—everything from
plastic bottles to making houses for my dolls out of cardboard boxes. I even wanted a small
garden, but since we lived in an apartment, we compromised with some potted flowers.
I loved learning these ideals and morals in such a fun and engaging way. It sparked
genuine interest about how nature works and is protected. Although I sadly lacked formal
education prioritizing nature, I’m glad I still learned from a young age. I hope to pass this interest
on to my future family, as it will be our generation and those to come who will face the
consequences of environmental damage.

[Polished Draft]

Milenka Izquierdo

DR. L Carpenter 

FIQWS 10108

Sept. 16 2024

Simple things, go a long way

As young people, we know the world is in danger and needs care to prevent further contamination—but why is this so vital? Some may believe we aren’t truly harming the planet or wonder how we, as individuals, can even help. From a young age, we learn about the ecosystem—about animals, plants, and vegetation—but are we taught how to protect it? Growing up, environmental care wasn’t a significant focus in my school. Surprisingly, what shaped my understanding of this topic was not a classroom but television. Cartoons and TV shows, especially their songs, left a lasting impact on me.

As a child living in the city, I didn’t see the importance of nature. I knew basic rules like not littering and recycling, but that was about it. One of my greatest influences was a TV channel called Discovery Kids—a favorite of both mine and my parents, though I didn’t understand why they liked it at the time. Looking back, the channel was highly educational, but it presented lessons in such a subtle and entertaining way that I didn’t realize how much I was learning.

The most significant lesson in caring for nature came from Doki, a TV show featuring a curious and optimistic dog and his animal friends. Each episode took viewers on an adventure around the world, where the characters learned about different cultures, ecosystems, and life lessons, often summarized with a catchy song at the end. One particular song, “Todos Somos Necesarios” (“We Are All Important”), stood out to me. It emphasized the interdependence of all ecosystem elements—trees, insects, frogs, birds—and explained why each part matters. I first heard that song when I was about five years old, and now, at 17, I can still sing it word for word. Though it aired as a commercial between shows, its message has stayed with me. It might seem silly, but what we watch as children can profoundly influence us. Since my school rarely provided this type of education, TV series, and movies became my main source of environmental awareness. That simple song planted a seed in me that has grown over time. My favorite cartoons sparked my curiosity about how nature works and whether it’s being protected. I started noticing the parks around me and wondered if they contained the same plants and animals I had seen in the shows.

The impact of these lessons became evident in small but meaningful ways. My parents have often reminded me that I was the one who initiated recycling in our home, making sure plastic bottles were sorted and creating doll houses out of cardboard boxes. I even asked for a garden, but since we lived in an apartment, we compromised with potted plants.

Looking back, I’m grateful that these shows inspired me in such an engaging and accessible way. Although I lacked formal education about environmental care, the lessons I learned as a child stuck with me. These early experiences not only sparked a lifelong interest in protecting nature but also taught me to value the small actions we can take every day. I hope to pass on this passion to my future family because our generation—and those to come—will face the consequences of environmental neglect.