Deep in the heart of Arizona

    Deep in the heart of Arizona, surrounded by beautiful mountains such as Piestewa Peak, Camelback Mountain, and South Mountain, there is a city that stands above all the rest: Tempe. It is the home I’ve known my whole life, I was born here.

 

    Tempe is home to Arizona State University, one of the largest public universities in the nation. Along with its Pulitzer and Nobel Prize faculty, it is also a class-one research institution. In 2006-07, ASU had more national merit scholars than any other public university in the country. World-class musical and dramatic productions come to Grady Gammage Memorial building, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

 

    The city of Tempe has a youthful energy. I don’t mean only a young feel, but instead it has a comforting feel. The people are friendly, with much diversity, allowing people to be exposed to different walks of life. Whether you’re at the Lakeshore Properties, or just plain campus housing, people are full of energy and happiness, and want to share it.

While filled with a youthful energy, Tempe still preserves its heritage and many of its old traditions. Downtown Tempe, on Mill Avenue, was completely rebuilt, from the tree-lined streets to the red brick buildings. Charles Trumbell Hayden, our founding father, hiked up Tempe Butte in 1869, he liked what he saw. I too like what I see as I look out over my beautiful city. On any given night, I can walk the streets and see a cornucopia of culture, from the bongo player on the corner, to the artist painting on the sidewalk.

 

    Tempe Town Lake is a recent addition to the city’s attractions. Tempe Town Lake Park includes a water park for children, a baseball field, and a pleasant picnic area. As a child, my Mom would take my sister and me to the Tempe library on Southern and Rural. After choosing our books, we would go outside to the grassy knolls, well maintained by the city and run down the small hill with our arms outstretched and thrill at the feel of the wind blowing through our fingers. We have open land like this at Kiwanis Park on Guadalupe and All American Way. We have 47 parks and 6 golf courses with two of them being municipally owned. Tempe’s Diablo Stadium is also home to the spring training camp of the Anaheim Angels and the Oakland A’s have made their spring training home in the Papago Park area of Tempe.

 

    Last year I helped on a project recording the WWII memories of our older citizens on video and audio tape. Transcriptions were included and archived in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and at the State Archives of Arizona. I learned how you live is the most important lesson to learn.

 

    Close to my house is Clark Park Pool. It is where I was taught to swim. It is where I participated in swim team. During the summer, when it was 110º I could walk down the street, pay seventy-five cents, and swim to my heart’s content. There is also a playground outside of the pool, where my family would often eat a picnic lunch.

 

    I attend school as a senior at Tempe High, which next year will celebrate its 100th graduating class. Tempe High, unlike many of the south Tempe schools, is very diverse.

 

    Tempe has a large minority population consisting of Hispanics, African-Americans, and even some Pacific Islanders. This, I believe, has been a great benefit to me. While Tempe High is not the highest-testing school, I have learned many things that I believe no other school could provide. I have learned about racial diversity and tolerance. When I see a person, I don’t see black, white, or brown, I see a person.

 

    While small in size, Tempe is large in stature, with its influences often reaching far beyond its boarders, such as in the case of devolving vital technologies for the Pathfinder robot on Mars. Tempe is a Community of people, people make the place, and the place helps create our experiences