New Paltz

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

I love my town. In more ways than one it has shaped me as a person. New Paltz is the type of place where you can be walking down the street and almost every person you run into you know. My high school is small and I feel confident in saying that all my teachers make an effort to know me as a person. I love that everyone is friendly and says hi to you in the hallway.

As I prepare to choose the place I will spend the next four years of my life, I wonder: have I been to sheltered growing up in a small town where I know everyone? Am I too comfortable? Even if the answer to these questions is yes, I would never want to live anywhere else.

My best friend and I spend hours outside on her porch swing, which looks out onto a particularly quiet street in New Paltz. As we talk about everything under the sun, contently listening to "The Bangles" Pandora Station people walk or ride their bikes by, sometimes stopping to chat or just waving as they go by. In these moment I am perfectly content and I think that can be contributed to the types of people and the mellow environment of New Paltz in general.

Another incredibly special thing about my town is that we have two nature preserves very close by. My whole time growing up the mountains and these preserves have been a major part of my life. My friends and I go on all day hikes just roaming around the woods or doing a rock scramble with an out of this world view of the surrounding mountains. Everyone in New Paltz is incredibly involved with the environment, especially when it comes to protecting it. It is not uncommon to see signs against fracking or bumper stickers encouraging everyone to recycle. This is probably where my interest in the environment stems from.

In college I hope to study in environmental studies and international relations/global affairs. I can 100% contribute these interest to my town. New Paltz has helped shape me to the person I am today and inspires me to do great thing, maybe even change the world (sorry I know that's corny).

Okay I'm now going to go attempt to turn this brain dump into an acceptable common app essay. ttyl