I live in Illinois, a town called Mount Prospect which is made up of about 55,000 residents. I attended a high school a 20 minute drive from my home as I was on the border between the residence halls of two different high schools. I live about 25 minutes from Chicago but I feel like I live there because of all the time I spend in the city. When I'm in the city, I feel at home and comfortable even though I'm in a huge city with huge buildings. I made some of the best memories that I will never forget in the city of Chicago. Since I was in my mother's belly, I went downtown to watch the “Festival of Lights” parade. We go with my aunt, uncle and cousins ​​every year the weekend before Thanksgiving. My entire family and I are obsessed with Disney and Mickey Mouse lights up the town with his magic wand. I have been going to the parade for 19 years and will go every two years possible. It's a tradition in my family that I hope can be passed down for a while. Since the parade starts around 7 we get off early and head towards State Street. During the holiday season, Macy's on State Street displays decorated windows with a different theme each year. We also go to Macy's and look for Christmas/Hanukkah gifts for the upcoming holidays. During the summer, I tend to spend more time in the city than in Mount Prospect. Whether it's going with my friends in the evening to buy cheap tickets to the Cubs game, or with my family to watch the fireworks show at Navy Pier, we are always downtown. In July, I went to Chicago the day before leaving for my two-week vacation in Florida to buy some last minute clothes for the trip. When I returned, the Blackhawks had won the Stanley Cup and were full of cards to play. My whole life we ​​watched the Bulls together and that was just our bond. I had the opportunity to purchase two tickets from a friend to a Bulls/Knicks game. When I got the tickets I didn't even hesitate who I would bring. My dad and I went to the Bulls game last December and it was one of the best nights of my life. They won and ended the Knicks' 14-game winning streak, but the best part was I was with my dad and he was with me. I will never forget that match and I love him dearly. As the evidence clearly shows, some of my best memories I've made in my 19 years have been downtown. Whether I was with my family for a tradition we keep, with my best friends to make memories, or even with my dad to watch the Bulls play, I had the best time there. When people ask me where I'm from, I say Chicago without hesitation.