I <3 California

I recently received a lovely notice of my rejection from Northwestern. Although upset that the Kellogg admissions committee did not see the same value in my candidacy that I did, I am somewhat (okay, very) relieved. My body ached every time I thought about living in Chicago for two consecutive winters and I am quite pleased that I will not be burdened with the decision of turning down an amazing school because I am scared to death of freezing my ass off.

With this decision in (and much earlier than expected) I am now happy to announce that I am 95% sure that I will be staying in the great State of California for school. Yes, there is still a chance that I will get into Yale but I feel fairly confident that I will turn down their offer because my heart is just not in it. I am thrilled that I will be staying in my birth state for at least the next two years because I truly do feel at home here and am constantly re-energized by all it has to offer.

The Top Eleven Reasons I Love California (I couldn’t narrow it down to ten) - in no particular order

1. Seventh Grade - I lived in San Bernardino from 3rd - 7th grade but I remember the last year as the most memorable. It was the year I started to feel like a grown up, going to the movies and the mall without parents, making some lifelong friends and chasing boys (although not for very long).

2. San Francisco – This place makes me feel alive and a part of something; I get butterflies in my stomach every time I drive over the Bay Bridge and I notice a little bounce in my step while strolling down the San Francisco streets.

3. Highway 1 - Spend a day driving south on Highway 1 from Monterey to San Luis Obispo, it will change your life.

4. San Luis Obispo - My favorite place to waste the day or night without really feeling like you are wasting it.

5. Santa Barbara - I will live here someday; I may be retired and close to death but I promise I will make it.

6. San Diego - The city of beaches, best friends and fond memories of a high school graduation trip that has made me forever adverse to Sauza tequila.

7. Lake Tahoe - Although I pretty much failed as a snow bunny I think Tahoe still has a lot to offer me; playtime on the lake in the summer, hiking in the spring, summer and fall and I am pretty sure they serve cold beer all year long!

8. Wine - I enjoy every last sip from the Napa Valley to the Central Coast.

9. Sacramento - The city of my birth and the place where I currently make my home. Despite our love-hate relationship, Sacramento will always have a special place in my heart. I have met some friendly faces here that I hope will be a part of my life forever.

10. Disneyland and Magic Mountain - Family vacations, class trips to Disneyland without permission, visiting old friends, kissing in the women's bathroom, nearly dying of heat stroke in the Arizona desert en route to Disneyland, taking my little sister on vacation and Gay Disney!

11. Los Angeles - Most will find it completely shocking that L.A made the list, but with the prospect of becoming a full time resident of the city in the very near future, I figure I better learn to love it. Despite all the things that I dislike about this place it does have a lot to offer me and I am confident that I will find my little niche somewhere beyond the traffic and paparazzi.