Blogging On Assignment #4: Trees of Life

 There’s a tall palm tree right outside my apartment building that I’ve come to really love. It stands almost at the same height as my balcony on the seventh floor, so every morning when I open my curtains, it's the first thing I see. The tree is a Mexican fan palm, known scientifically as Washingtonia robusta. It’s tall, slim, and strong despite looking so thin. It’s not native to Los Angeles originally, but seeing palm trees everywhere has become such a big part of the city’s identity that it almost feels like it belongs here more than anywhere else.

What I love most about this palm tree is how calming it is. The way its long fronds move with the wind makes a soft sound that I can hear even from my room when my window is open. It feels very peaceful in the morning and at night. I also love it as a view from my living room and my room. Palm trees don’t really have a scent or anything, but I still associate them with a sense of freshness, like the start of a warm, bright day.

My interactions with this palm tree are usually constant. I see it every morning when I wake up and most afternoons when I come home from campus. One reason that I like interacting with it is that they do not exist in Turkey, so it makes me feel like I am in LA, and in the future, it will remind me of my USC years. Sometimes when I’m stressed, I find myself staring at it from my window for a minute or two, letting my mind calm down. 

I definitely place value on this tree, even though it’s just outside my apartment by coincidence. I won’t have it permanently; when I move, I’ll leave it behind, but I think I’ll always remember this palm tree as part of my life during this specific chapter. It’s tied to my routine, my room, my view, and honestly, my sense of calm. 

I wouldn’t go as far as saying the palm tree is part of my identity, but it does reflect a part of me. Palm trees feel peaceful yet resilient, as they can bend so much without breaking, and they’re always associated with light and warmth. That’s the energy I want in my own life, especially during college when everything feels overwhelming at times. This tree has become a small reminder for me to calm down and relax, no matter how hectic my life gets.

Comments

  1. Sakina ONovember 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM

    Hi Ela! I love palm trees. I feel like most houses I lived in always had a palm tree in the backyard or in the neighborhood, so it's very common in Southern California. I always forget that other cities don't always have them. They definitely add warmth to the area. I'm glad the tree serves are your reminder to calm down; it's important to have a sense of stability in the hectic college life.

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  2. Anali MartinezDecember 1, 2025 at 2:32 PM

    Hi Ela! I love how you describe the palm tree as part of your daily rhythm—it makes the whole reflection feel really peaceful and personal. The way you notice its sound, movement, and presence shows how something simple can still bring a lot of grounding and comfort. It’s also really sweet how it connects you to LA and your time at USC, especially since palm trees aren’t part of your home environment in Turkey. Overall, you capture this really gentle idea of finding calm and stability in small, everyday things, and it makes the tree feel like a quiet reminder to breathe and slow down.

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