Sense of Place

1. Sense of Place--- "You can't know who you are until you know where you are." - Wendell Berry.
Take a walking trip around your neighborhood. Observe plant species, wildlife, the design of your neighborhood, or unique neighborhood characteristics. Include photos or video clips. 
‘Sense of place’ is understanding the environment around you, the things that make a place special and unique, where you feel most at home. Is where you live now your sense of place? Write about an area where you have a feeling of ‘sense of place’.

I live in the North Lake dorms on campus as an RA. I have lived here for all three years in different areas of North Lake, and I have noticed each section offers something very different, almost like a real suburb. On one far end of North Lake, you have the sports complexes, this is a place where most of the student athletes live, due to how convenient it is to have all of their facilities nearby. This a very busy area, and it does not have a lot of green space, because most space is taken up by parking lots used for basketball games. The middle section of North Lake is closest to the front desk, and where most of the incoming student tours are held, which means that it is kept in more pristine condition, to give off a good impression of the place. It also has a lot of green space and outdoor facilities, which is what the school really pushes to be known for. It is such a great place- it has the waterfront, the hammocks, the pool, two large fields, a fire pit, and a small hut. It is pretty secure and monitored by the front office, so facilities are in good shape. The other neighborhood is the Groves neighborhood, which does not have any special designation, and in poor condition compared to the other two neighborhoods. The Groves has a green space between two buildings that is not well maintained or monitored. It has a cute chiki hut and cookout area, but there is no waterfront continuation for sitting on the water, it is all natural area, which I enjoy. I believe that the Groves really does not get as much attention as it needs due to the fact that it does not have a special facility or use. I have seen how this lack of designation affects how I am able to build community with my residents, especially when I rely on facilities to be maintained in order for my residents to get out in the community and socialize. 

What I have realized with North Lake is that it is essentially a microcosm for a medium sized city. The parts of the city that have the least well-maintained facilities sometimes also have the least interest in community building, and they do not get enough attention. Parts of the city that have large businesses and attractions have an easier time maintaining a sense of community. I live in the Groves neighborhood and I take great pride in the community that I have tried to build here that provides my sense of place and creates a community that values this place as well. I feel at home in the natural wild, and overgrown space here, and I hope to help my fellow Groves residents feel more at home and appreciate taking care of the place we live in.