Rightful Home by Madalyn

Rightful Home by Madalyn - January 2013 Scholarship Essay

    
Unbearable heat, bright neon lights, enormous casinos along with gift shops around the corner have marked thirteen wonderful years of my life. Eighteen years old now I know where I belong, however that was not always the case.  Born in California, I loved cool frosty mornings and freshly cut grass. Giant forest trees inspiring me to stand tall, to reach for my dreams, the deep blue ocean a reminder of the immense world and possibilities to come. Believing California to be the best place in the world I did not see reason in leaving. Only five years old at the time, I unwillingly climbed in a car and saw my inspirational forest trees morph into prickly cacti. Devastated about leaving what I considered my place in the world I saw nothing in my new home, Las Vegas, Nevada. The high temperature quickly established as my number one enemy, giving headaches and a constant reminder of the world I had left. Yet as the days passed, I unknowingly grew accustomed to the weather.  The sun no longer seemed to have a personal grudge against me, leading me to fall in love with the beautiful sunsets it created. The bright mixture of colors seemed heavenly now. Las Vegas promised to be a new beginning.  Gigantic casinos, much taller than the tress I admired, presented me with a world I had not known, bringing forth a new excitement. Adorned with flashing colorful lights they became new suns to me, providing light in the nightly darkness thus bringing a new world to life when the rest of the world had been put to sleep.  Slowly, Las Vegas nudged itself into my heart and was established as my rightful home. Unlike California, I don’t plan to leave Las Vegas, not if I have say in it. So when asked, “Which college is my dream school and why?” the answer is simple, UNLV and reason is in the name.  I want to wear Rebel Red while shouting to the world, and the opposing team, why they frankly suck. Even when we are at the last quarter or ending of a game with the game already lost I will continue screaming, because I know that just like the casinos in our city we can stand tall and reach the skies. Expanding my education at UNLV while still being able to see those beautiful sunsets which I feel in love with so long ago would be a dream come true.  I love Las Vegas, not only for its obvious touristic components but also for the things which are often over looked. Town Square and the pool of water I was pushed into two years ago, laser tagging, Nappoli Pizza and driving on the Spaghetti Bowl, UNLV would keep me close to all these things and many more. My dream college is the University of Nevada Las Vegas, as it holds something dear to me, from snowy Mt. Charleston to the Air Balloons across town, it holds my home.