I grew up in an area of a lot of growth, in Orange County, California, and spent most of my youth on the beach. I had witnessed the degradation of our Back Bay and the increased number of closed beach days over the years.

I have always had a very natural connection to the water, and that connection stems from the ocean itself.

Retiring is a strange word. I'm 27 years old. I've still got stuff to do.

People should make a stand for the things they love and want to see survive infinite generations.

We can still maintain our coasts and oceans for the generations to come, who deserve what we have.

I think the best thing I can hope to achieve is to educate, or make aware, as many people as possible on how the little things they do every day really do affect our environment.

If we were to lose our fish that we appreciate so much by overfishing; or if we were to lose some of our favorite beaches to overbuilding and pollution, then how would we feel? It's become a case of not knowing what you've got until it's gone.