II have spent every summer of my life in Puerto Rico.  Prior to my grandfather's death last year, my mother would fly us to Puerto Rico as soon as school ended, and we wouldn't come back until the day before school started.  I've always loved these summers. There is an instant feeling of comfort and safety when you're surrounded by so many relatives.  It's never mattered that my Spanish isn't perfect or that my sister and I look like "Gringos".  Family is family, and Puerto Rico is my second home.   This project started because of a conversation between my aunt (who has a PhD in biophysics and lives in Puerto Rico) and a school teacher at a local high school.  The teacher mentioned that the students were struggling with their mangrove aquaponic system because of failures in the pump needed to keep the fish alive.  It just so happened that my aunt and I had recently discussed a long-term dream of mine: building home systems that harness water from natural resources. This gave her the idea to seek my help.  What started as a small technical challenge evolved into something much more. I connected with students at the school, exchanged ideas, and saw how something I created could make a difference to the school and even to the island I love so much. This project taught me that even as a student, I can make a real difference. The students at the high school were extremely grateful for my work on the project, and I am delighted to have contributed to something that mattered to them and will have a lasting impact on Puerto Rico’s ecology.