For me, ASU is home. Through much of my life, I have lived in the Phoenix valley. I am the son of two military parents, though, and we did tour the southwest. It was hard to be grounded to any area, because the future was so unpredictable, that it would hurt too much to become attached. When I was six, I lived with my grandparents because my parents were too busy for my brother and me. It wasn’t until I started the first grade that I commenced living with my parents. We lived in Tempe, Arizona and my parents both attended ASU. My father worked at the IT department of ASU and I have very fond memories of spending time on campus around where my dad worked.
The weather was always bright, and there were always people making their way around the desks. The library was vast and quiet, it made me hyper and I would run among the shelves. My favorite books to look at were the children joke books, and I would as many jokes as I could. Later I would recite them to my mother and submit them to be read on the morning announcements at my elementary school. After visiting campus, my mother and I would sometimes go to produce marts that were around the school.
I remember the noise, the heat, and the happiness of ASU football games. We would spend an hour in preparation for the game. My aunt or my mom would paint my face and I would dress in the colors and then would go into the stream of maroon into the stadium. After ascending the many stairs, it was a delight to finally find my seat.
After moving around, we would return to Phoenix. It was always my intention to go to school at ASU. It was tied to so many great emotions and I was nostalgic when I thought about living there. That is what ASU can provide for me that no other school could, it is home. I could always count on ASU football being there and so many members of my family went there. In the fall, I will attend ASU with my high school friends, one of whom I plan on rooming with, and my family in the area. With a strong support, I will be successful in college.
