I’ve lived in California, the Central Valley to be exact, most of my life, and up until my freshman year in college I had no idea what Yosemite was when someone would nonchalantly mention it. It wasn’t until a long hard school week that my best friend and I decided to find out what this place looked like. Three miles up Yosemite Falls later, I felt a deep connection to this place…as if it was a place I was meant to be in…it was magical! I left the park feeling better than when I arrived. How was it that no one ever spoke highly about this beautiful place? Why had I never been here when it was less than two hours away? I felt deprived for having to wait 18 years to find such a place, but I also felt blessed because I now knew about it. When I transferred to UC Merced I took the initiative to spend more time in Yosemite, and one of the ways I did that was by interning with the Yosemite Leadership Program Summer Internship. I lived and worked in Yosemite for three months educating student groups and visitors about Yosemite’s rich natural and cultural history, hoping that they too would leave the park feeling better than when they arrived. After my internship I received the opportunity to become a Yosemite National Park Ranger for UC Merced’s Wilderness Education Center, and I was able to take students to Yosemite and share magical experiences with them, bridge a gap between the city and the outdoors, and share my enduring love for natural places with everyone I know. Keep the national park magic alive!
Sincerely,
Yosemite National Park
With its sculpted granite rock formations, towering ancient sequoia trees and spectacular waterfalls, it's no wonder Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks in the world.
State(s): California
Established: 1890
“It is a privilege to take care of them, and because they are places that deserve to be taken care of. They are OUR national parks! ”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.
In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!
Here’s your unique story page link:
{{ storyUrl }}-
Greetings from Yosemite National Park
There are pictures of me sitting by Vernal Falls when I was eight. The funny thing is, I don't have a single memory of that hike. So, when my parents told me we were going to Yosemite National Park over the summer, I was excited to experience its magnificence again.…
Preserve Our Parks
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.
Donate Now