Lily: LA Beyond the Car Window

Lily is an SRLA Alumna, she shared her perspective on how traveling for SRLA races changed her outlook on LA. Lily is now attending the University of California, Los Angeles and is exploring Westwood.

The biggest opportunity that Students Run LA gave me was to see and experience Los Angeles in a different light. I was born and raised in Los Angeles but for the last 18 years the only parts of Los Angeles I’ve seen have been through the glass window of my father’s car. I have lived in one of the most famous cities in the United States but have never truly realized how beautiful it was until I joined this program.

“I have lived in one of the most famous cities in the United States but have never truly realized how beautiful it was until I joined this program.”

Until I joined this program, all I knew of LA was the small area in South Central. I was familiar with my apartment complex on 47th and Central and my school on 41st and Hooper and the most beautiful part of Los Angeles I had seen was on Figueroa where The University of Southern California is located. Anything and everything else in Los Angeles I had only seen when passing by in my father’s car, and all I could do was wave goodbye.

My view on Los Angeles all changed when I joined Students Run LA. I was given the opportunity to see the beautiful, touristic, and historic city. Although running was hard and left me sore so many times, seeing the beautiful places gave me happiness and so much joy. Running through the Dodger Stadium, Dockweiler beach, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica was awesome. Los Angeles was always portrayed as this grand city where everyone wanted to go but to me it was just plain old home with nothing special in it. But throughout the journey of SRLA I found myself falling in love with this city. It was beautiful seeing LA as more than just south central, I was able to see its diversity, its fondness, and light. Thank you, because now I know how much beauty this city has.

You can ensure that students like Lily, have free transportation to get to the races and discover Los Angeles. Donate to our Transportation Fund today!