Uribe 1

Kyla Uribe
Professor Encinias
CAS 115
10 November 2023
Pros And Cons

I’ve always said Los Angeles has been my second home. I say that because my family
and I commuted to LA every single month since 2016 and stayed for either a week or a weekend.
It was nice, don't get me wrong but when you continuously do that for 7 years it gets a little
boring and overrated. I am from a small suburban town in Sacramento, called Antelope. A place
where people acknowledge you and say “hi”, a place where people are genuine and will do
anything for you despite what they're doing at that moment. Antelope is filled with people I've
known since birth. There’s a level of friendliness and genuineness that my hometown has that for
some reason L.A lacks.
I’ve created many bonds with people around my hometown, whether that be through a
fast food drive thru, a retail store, a restaurant, or just on the street. You pass by people and they
give you the biggest smile, every interaction feels like they are happy to talk to. Until I moved to
L.A. It’s like the whole entire atmosphere changed. Everyone doesn’t want to be talked to nor
looked at, People are always in a rush and never want to have a conversation with you. No one
wants to be genuine. It was a change I was not ready for.
Growing up in Antelope I always told myself that I'd do anything to get out of this small
suburban town, far away from Sacramento. But I forget how different my hometown values were
from the one I was about to immerse myself in. L.A has been glorified in multiple tv shows and
movies, but it is not what it seems. Ever since I've moved here I haven’t been able to create
bonds with anyone, no one smiles here. And for it to be a place of entertainment, fun, and
adventure it’s a bit concerning. I am an outgoing person, I love to connect with people and learn
about who they are as a person but many people in L.A hate the idea of getting to know one
another.
Although good human interaction is what L.A sadly doesn’t acquire it does come with
many things that I love that Sacramento, specifically Antelope lacks. It has amazing sunsets
every single day, they have Universal Studios and Disneyland, I’m an hour away from the beach,
My best friend (who is my brother) lives 15 minutes away, there's new things to try, and
landmarks to take candid photos at. Los Angeles simply does make up for what it doesn’t have. I
remember being dropped off after move in day and being so excited to live all by myself in this
new unfamiliar environment that I would start to call home.
However, there was one week I specifically remember, I believe it was the second week
of the semester where I started noticing that the people around me weren’t as genuine or kind as I
was. I started noticing that the people who called themselves a friend’s friend really were just a
fake friend. No one wanted to do anything unless it benefited them in the process. Where I come
from, if someone needed help, wanted to talk, or even just wanted to receive some
 Uribe 2

encouragement or advice, people would stop what they were doing and help them out. But in
L.A individuals are quick to give up or walk away when they no longer gain from it. It becomes
an inconvenience to them when they have to put a halt to what they are doing. And don’t get me
wrong, I understand that people have lives and can’t always be that person to step in, but it’s so
simple to crack a smile, make small talk, or even say “hi” or “goodmorning”. That can quickly
make someone who was having a horrible day have a more upbeat and better one.
Since L.A will be my home for the next four years and probably longer, I know that I will
have to get used to this unfriendliness and insincerity that individuals here hold. Which will
always make me hold a special place in my heart for Antelope. But also the beautiful things that
L.A has that makes up for the worst things makes it seem so worthwhile, than staying in old
small Antelope, California.