Read the following passage written by a teen hero:

I want to be a vocal advocate for nature.
I reject the idea that I am too young to make a difference.
I recently helped a group with a river cleanup.
I was mortified to see the destruction of animals and plants.
When I got home, I composed a letter to my state politicians and asked them to allocate more money to the local river cleanup effort.
I believe my vocation is to help citizens see that we are at a junction.
We can decide to subject nature to abuse, or we can decide to be a benefactor to nature.
I won't let obstacles detract from my mission.


What is the meaning of the word "detract" as it is used in sentence 8?
To join together
To pull in the opposite direction