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2006 “Arizona Is My Home”
Scholarship Winning Essays
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"Arizona is My Home"
by Carrie Johnson
Once the air had cooled and the chores were done, on any
typical summer night you could find my family fishing on
the banks of the Verde River. My name is Carrie Johnson
and I grew up at Childs Power Plant, close to where
Fossil Creek and the Verde River meet.
My father worked for Arizona Public Service. This
provided my family the privilege of spending 25 years, a
full quarter (the last quarter) living among the
uniqueness and rich history of the place I call home.
I learned at a young age that my family was my best
friends in our tiny settlement (in the boom as I knew
it), population 13. The entirety of our “hometown” was
six small houses, the hydroelectric plant, an office and
one small room that served as the post office, library
and medical supply nestled among the huge cottonwoods on
the Verde.
I learned very quickly that school was a privilege. The
drive to town was long and difficult. Grade school was a
full hour away! A journalist once described the journey
as “an arduous trek not to be taken lightly”. This put
education to a much higher importance to me knowing the
effort it took to get there. I also had greater respect
for my teachers and began early bringing them our
garden’s harvests and the wildflowers along the way.
Lucky for me, they were very understanding when mud
slides and snowfall prohibited our travel.
As I got older I began to learn and appreciate the
history of my home. In 1907, construction of Childs
Power Plant began lead by a woman engineer, Iva Tuft.
Utilizing 250 men and 450 mules for mule trains,
supplies were brought from as far away as Germany.
Despite the great topographical difficulties, her work
was a success. The plant went online June 18, 1909 and
transmitted power for the first time over a long
distance in Arizona. These facts were easy for me to
remember even as a young child because she was one of
the first women engineers and June 18th is my birthday.
This historic marvel is believed to be greatly
responsible for the progress and growth of Arizona.
Childs supplied electricity to Jerome and other small
mining towns. In 1993, my home was added to the National
Register of Historic Places. This was an event that I
will not soon forget. I was ten years old to the day and
many important people came for a great celebration. If
there were ever a town known for rural life and Arizona
traditions I believe we were in it.
Agriculture has always played a major role in my life.
The vision I have of my home was swallowed by large
fruit trees, grapevines and grass. We grew and canned
our own vegetables from the garden, made our own bread
and even butchered our own beef and fish. My sisters and
I were all involved in 4-H and FFA. The location of our
home made it possible for us to experience the
responsibility of raising market animals. Our best
friends were a ranching couple that lived just on the
other side of the river. They were as pioneering as the
settlers in 1909 and taught me about life and true
happiness. I always felt special when kids at school
asked me where I lived. I loved taking my new friends
from town down to my home to have a sleep over, and
every girl in my class was invited to my birthday
parties. There are really no words I can use to describe
the pride and love I have of my “home town.” I learned
so much just about life, taking responsibility and how
to believe in my abilities. The beauty of the desert is
captivating, and hidden in the canyons are some of the
most unforgettable riparian areas. If I had not seen it
my self I would believe such a place existed.
My motivation to continue my education comes from the
experience of living in rural Arizona. I am currently
studying animal science at the University of Arizona.
The technology available today in agriculture has opened
a new era in possibilities. I am extremely interested in
animal reproduction and the advancements in genetics. By
artificial insemination and embryo transfers we have the
ability to advance herd production and bring the animal
industry, one of our state’s longest standing
traditions, to new heights. Education is still one of
the greatest privileges I am enjoying and am thankful
for the background that growing up in Childs has
provided.
Just as time changes all things, and going home is never
quite the same, Childs now is only a memory. My home has
been removed and the lush green of great trees and
grapevines is gone. In my mind on summer nights once the
air has cooled and the work is done I still feel the
urge to be on the banks of the Verde.
"Arizona Is My Home"
by Roxanne Roud
Raised in Pinetop-Lakeside, no matter how far I travel,
I always know that it is my home. Pinetop-Lakeside is a
small town in Arizona where many people come to visit
and enjoy the scenery, but only for a short time, then
they must pack up and go back to the hustle and bustle
of the large city. I, on the other hand, am fortunate
enough to call this beautiful town home. From the Friday
night football games to the Fall Festival held every
year, Pinetop-Lakeside is the typical cliché of a small
town.
I was born in Phoenix and lived there until the summer
after my fourth grade year. For a 9 year old, the
excitement of moving was overwhelming. Sure I would be
leaving all of my friends, but I understood that I would
soon make new ones. I was counting down the days until
we moved, but my older brother and sister were dreading
it. My sister, 6 years my elder, and my brother 5 years
my elder, were being forced to leave the friends they
had grown up with all of their lives. Arriving in
Pinetop, it was clear to our entire family that we would
be starting over. It has been quoted that “to take one
step up, you have to take two steps back,” and that was
the story of our family for the first year and a half
that we moved here. Having both of my parents sell their
businesses in the city to share a partnership in our new
town sounded like a wonderful opportunity, until we had
to give up everything we had to start this wonderful
life. Our first home was our 5th wheel camper, which we
ironically stayed in just 2 years prior to our move to
the mountains for a family vacation. Now, the same
recreational vehicle that gave us so many wonderful
memories was giving us a place to call home. Struggling
does not quite cover what my family and I went through
before we were back on our own two feet, or should I say
ten feet. For my parents, establishing a business in a
small town was not what they had expected. The
businesses that are in this area have history and family
ties. People had shopped at these stores for years.
Their grandparents shopped there, their parents the
same, and now they too would be faithful to the
businesses that had been there for years. So how did my
parents do it? With hard work and determination. My
parents are a true inspiration to me and they have
always taught me to strive for what want and dream of
what will be. They provided a wonderful small town life
for me and I would not trade any of my time here for the
rushed city life that I hear is so great.
From fifth grade until graduation day when I stood in
front of my class awaiting to give them the cue to turn
their tassels, I could name anyone of my classmates
first and last names and probably what their parent’s
did for a living. I could tell if they had an older
brother or sister, or if they were a member of any of
the clubs on campus. Some may say that so “small town”
to know everybody’s business, and it is and that is why
it is so great. It is not about knowing the bad about
everybody in Pinetop, but rather it is about announcing
the good in people’s lives. Getting congratulated on a
new baby, recent engagement, or a college graduation. In
my town, if you have to go to the grocery store, you
know that it will not be a simple trip to the store. You
will always see a familiar face at our local Safeway.
Blue Ridge High School, known state-wide for our
numerous 3A State Football Championships was where I
went to high school. And trust me, when it was football
season on a Friday night, there was not another care in
the world. The community comes together for our boys on
the field and gives them tremendous support, but it is
not only about the game. It is also about seeing
everybody. During a football game, Pinetop-Lakeside, for
the most part, shuts down. And if you miss a home game,
it is for a good reason. If you have a son playing or
not, Blue Ridge Football is in your heart. But, in the
“off-season”, we have plenty of other wonderful athletes
to watch, and the Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets are always a
strong contender making every state tournament for every
sport. Our talent is well beyond the field though, we
also participated in academics with State Championships
in Academic Decathlon and Speech and Debate. Blue Ridge
“raises” fine individuals. Not redneck country boys and
girls, but cultured, well rounded men and women. In high
school I was involved in Volleyball, Softball, Spanish
Club, Bible Club, Ski Club, Mock Trial, Physics Club,
and Student Council where I held the office of Class
President for my sophomore, junior, and senior years. I
had a lot of wonderful experiences in high school and I
truly believe in my heart that I would not be the same
person that I am today if I would have grown up in the
city. I have met many people in college and when they
ask where I’m from and I tell them Pinetop, they just
laugh and call me a small town girl, but that’s ok
because that is who I am. The city kids that I have met
in college do not understand the importance of community
like I do. I grew up in a true community and with true
friends. Not just a group of friends like many have, but
a class of friends, all 200 of them.
After graduation, it’s always the same story: everybody
cannot wait to leave for college. I was no different,
but unlike many of my classmates, I did not go to the
city, I instead went to Flagstaff because it reminded me
of home. I still love coming back to Pinetop for the
weekends, and making a “quick trip” to the grocery store
for my mom. I love seeing my friend’s parents and
hearing about how they also miss home. We all become
butterflies once we graduate. We are given wings, and we
do what we have dreamed to do, but we always come back
because it’s our town, it’s our family, it’s our home.
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