Darling Little Moscow

Sledding in the wheat fields, curling up with a cup of the world's best hot cocoa in a little coffee shop downtown, swimming at 5:30 in the morning at the outdoor pool, going to lunch at the Silos or downtown, riding the Chipman trail, participating in University activities and using University facilities, going on runs in the country side, driving through the snow to early morning seminary, going on midnight Ben and Jerry's runs to Safeway, owning two adorable hunting dogs, loving life, and living it in the small town of Moscow, ID.

According to an Associated Press report a few years back, Moscow was voted one of the top ten places in the United States to raise a family. Having lived and gone to school in Moscow since I was about 10, I can see why. My siblings and I were fortunate enough to attend Lena Whitmore Elementary... the best elementary school in the world, by the way... and we were all afforded numerous opportunities throughout our childhoods to attend special cultural events like Rendezvous in the Park, the Renaissance Fair, and many others. Moscow is also very close to many outdoor opportunities... drive two hours in any direction and you can find many places to fish, hike, swim, camp, whatever. It's awesome.

One of the greatest resources that Moscow boasts is the University of Idaho. Our community is so much richer because of the many intellects and talents that the University brings. The University brings lots of new culture and diversity to Moscow. One of my good friends from high school was a Muslim from Egypt whose dad taught engineering at the University. The University also provides dual enrollment for high school students, helping them to get university credits before they even graduate from high school. Speaking of which, Moscow High School is often referred to as "The Pride of North" because students in Moscow School District generally test higher than any other students in the panhandle. There are many great clubs, sports programs, and academic programs at Moscow High School. One in particular is the Extended Learning Internship program which allows a student to design their own course and set their own goals for a semester of learning about whatever they what. I owe my present satisfaction with my declared major to this program. First semester of my senior year, I studied neuroscience... more specifically, Uniqueness and Creativity in the Brain. I had the greatest mentor ever and it was through the ELI program that I was able to fall in love with brains and determine my current major.

I had a lot of friends from high school who were so so so excited to get out of Moscow when they graduated, but I miss my little hometown. The mountains here are very nice, but I miss the rolling wheat fields, Paradise Creek, and good old Moscow Mountain... though when compared to the mountains here, Moscow Mountain was more like a nice little rise with some trees. Oh well. I still miss it and love it. I am already super excited to go home at Christmas time. Moscow truly is the best hometown in the whole world!!!