Greetings from Yosemite National Park

My park story begins with an acceptance to the University of California Merced. I’m a first-generation college student and a first-generation park ranger. Wild places have offered me a variety of things. I’ve seen the Milky Way for the first time and cried as I watched others experience it for their first time. I’ve walked through a living giant Sequoia and have had the opportunity to lead others through these marvels. I’ve backpacked, hiked, rock climbed, snowboarded, and so much more. This privilege was granted to me by people who believed that I deserved it, and now I have the opportunity to pay this luxury forward. It is truly life changing to go to a place that has changed so much and yet so little and know that someone a long time ago cared enough about us to make sure we could experience it. At least that’s how I feel when I’m leading a trip to the park or picking up some trash on the trail. For those that have never been to a park, and for those of you who visit when you can, I care about you. I want you to experience these places and feel the love and belonging that I’ve felt here. I hope, someday, you can :)

Sincerely,
Jessica Rivas

Yosemite National Park

With its sculpted granite rock formations, towering ancient sequoia trees and spectacular waterfalls, it's no wonder Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks in the world.

State(s): California

Established: 1890

“They are honestly America's best and most selfless idea.”

National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!

{{ active ? "Cancel" : "Begin"}}

Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.

You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.

In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!

Here’s your unique story page link:

{{ storyUrl }}

* indicates Required fields

Click to choose a file to upload

Submitting your story means that you agree to our Terms of Service

More Stories

  • Greetings from Yosemite National Park

    Where do I start? National Parks have been a part of my life since I was a small child. My parents took me on road trips after visiting local parks, to help me see our country and its amazing variety. We took our child on similar road trips to see…

  • Greetings from Yosemite National Park

    Decades ago, I had a close brush with death that shook me to to core. Acting out of pure instinct, I immediately drove about 200 miles to Yosemite and walked the trail out to the Grizzly Giant, in the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. I sat at its base, my…

  • Greetings from Yosemite National Park

    I was a beach person, until my daughter started working at Yosemite, now I am a mountain person too!

Donate

Preserve Our Parks

Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.

Donate Now