You can always be a good person and you don’t have to wait for a planned event or join a specific club to make the world a better place. Rafael Garcia is an example of that type of individual

Garcia doesn’t do trash pick-up for any rewards, just because he can. By picking up trash, this 16-year old junior helps make the environment and inspires his classmates and friends to do the same. “I’ve seen that it was dirty one day, and I was like ‘Why not clean up to make it look better?’” he said. The next thing he knew, he was making it happen.

Even though he doesn’t work with an organization or do official volunteer work, he is still working to make a difference. Garcia started picking up trash around his neighborhood during the summer and moved on to many other neighborhoods as well. Now, he is in the habit of picking up trash anywhere he sees it.

Garcia also likes working out. He used to play soccer but decided to take a break from it, although he does want to get back into it eventually.

After high school, he plans to go college and eventually into the medical field.