aisha
Aisha's Response: The Litter Dilemma
Aisha is 14 years old, Somali-Canadian, from Ottawa.
When I looked around the park and saw all that litter, I felt genuinely upset. It was not just my friends and I — there were families with young children playing nearby, and the mess was ruining a beautiful afternoon for everyone. I knew right away what I had to do: we needed to take action and clean it up.
I suggested to my friends that we spend 15 to 20 minutes picking up the litter before we packed up to leave. At first, a few of them groaned a little — "But we didn't make this mess!" one of them said. I understood that feeling, but I also knew that saying "it's not my problem" is how problems like this keep getting worse.
We did not have garbage bags with us, but we used the plastic bags we had brought our food in. We collected as much litter as we could and brought it to the nearest park bin. It felt good — not just in the moment, but because we knew we had left that park better than we found it.
What Were the Consequences?
In the short term, we spent some of our afternoon cleaning. But in the long term, the impact was more meaningful:
- The environment benefited directly — less plastic waste near the pathways and green areas
- Other park visitors could enjoy a cleaner, more pleasant space
- Myself and my friends felt a sense of pride. A few of my friends even said they would think twice before littering themselves going forward.
I also think our actions may have inspired others. Two people walking by stopped and actually thanked us. One asked if we had extra bags so she could help. Small actions can create a ripple effect.
The Connection to Entrepreneurship
This scenario reminded me a lot of what we have been learning about ethical leadership. In business, you will constantly face moments where you can look away from a problem — or step up and address it.
If I were running a business, I want to be the kind of entrepreneur who takes responsibility even when it is inconvenient. Whether that means being honest with customers about a mistake, fixing a product that is not working properly, or choosing to pay fair wages even when cheaper options exist — I want my actions to reflect my values.
The park was not ruined by one person. It was ruined by many people each deciding it was "not their problem." I do not want to be an entrepreneur who thinks that way. I want to be someone who sees a problem and helps fix it — even when no one is watching.
Taking action — even when it is easier not to — is one of the most powerful things an entrepreneur can do.