I am lucky to call California home! The sun shines almost all year, palm trees sway in the breeze, and people from around the world come together to create one of the most diverse places in the country. With more than 200 languages spoken, California is a true melting pot of cultures, traditions, and communities.

Even the state’s name has a fascinating story. “California” comes from an old Spanish adventure tale about a magical island ruled by a brave queen named Calafia. Spanish explorers loved the name so much that they eventually gave it to this land.

California is a land of extremes. Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, while nearby Death Valley is home to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. Death Valley is also famous for recording a temperature of 134°F, one of the highest temperatures ever officially recorded on Earth. California is home to remarkable trees, too. Hyperion, a redwood, is the tallest known living tree in the world, while General Sherman, a giant sequoia, is the largest known tree by volume. Some of California’s bristlecone pines are nearly 5,000 years old!

For outdoor lovers, California offers 28 national park sites and 283 state parks, with beaches, forests, mountains, and deserts waiting to be explored. From hiking among ancient trees to relaxing along the Pacific coast, there is something for every type of traveler.

California also has a proud Deaf history and a vibrant Deaf community. The California School for the Deaf, Fremont (CSDF), founded in 1860, was the state’s first special education program and continues to serve students in Northern California. The California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR), serves students in Southern California. Both schools provide education and activities in American Sign Language and share a fun, long-running football rivalry!

At the college level, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is home to the National Center on Deafness (NCOD). Founded in 1964, NCOD was the first college program in the nation to provide paid sign language interpreters. Today, it continues to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing students through interpreting, captioning, tutoring, and other services that help provide full access to education.

From giant trees and towering mountains to sunny beaches and a vibrant Deaf community, California is truly a special place. I am proud to call it home!