I constantly find myself returning to the beach. The entire west coastline is breathtaking and leaves me in awe of its seemingly endless beauty. Living so near to the Pacific has changed my perceptive for the better. I feel calm and at ease as I listen to the sound of the waves and feel the sand between my toes. The beach is my escape —  a place I can always go to and clear my head, find gratitude. I feel an occasional sense of nostalgia as memories of quality time spent with my friends and family at the beach flood my mind. I will always love the mountains, the city and the gorge, but as I keep finding myself at the beach, I realize the coast will always have a special place in my heart.

– Savannah Mendoza