50 Students for 50 States: Nevada

What is your name?  

Lily McCandless.  

Which state are you from? 

Nevada.  

Have you lived there your whole life? 

Yes. 

Describe your state in three words. 

Desert, dichotomous, and hot.  

Describe the people in your state in three words. 

Tight-knit, odd, and diverse.  

Are you proud of being from your home state? Why or why not? 

Yes, because there aren’t a lot of people from Nevada or specifically from Las Vegas at CCU. There’s definitely a lot of misrepresentation about Las Vegas so it’s fun to hear what people think about it and help clear that up.  

How did growing up in your state affect your childhood? 

Because it was so hot, we always spent summers (we had long summers) in the pool. Growing up like that has given me such a huge love for pools, lakes, and oceans. I just have great memories with the water. Even though Las Vegas gives off big city vibes, it’s also such a small world because everywhere you go you see people you know.   

In Las Vegas, everything opens up at night. 

What kind of local traditions did your town have? 

Every year, we have a renaissance festival. That’s a really big deal. 

What was the culture like in your home state / town? 

Las Vegas isn’t really representative of Nevada because the people who go there aren’t Nevada locals. But at the same time it is representative because Nevada is a very odd place with lots of odd people. Even though Las Vegas is a big city, it is actually pretty tight-knight. After the shooting we just had, it really showed how the community can come together. People went out of their way to donate money and blood and remember all the people who were affected by the shooting.  

What kind of relationship did you have with your neighbors? 

When I was younger, we would have block parties and I would always play with my next door neighbors. We would play outside a lot and run through the sprinklers because it was so hot. Where I live now, there aren’t any kids that play outside. I think our neighborhood isn’t as kind now.  

What was your favorite thing to do in your home state / town? 

I loved going to my grandparents house. We’d go every day during the summer.  

Are there any foods that your state is famous for? 

Alcohol.  

Is there any slang from your home state that you use frequently? 

I don’t think so. Nevada is a very plain speaking place.  

Do you have any local celebrities? 

We have a lot of older celebrities. Wayne Newton and Mark Wahlberg. Even though Elvis didn’t live there, he had a house there and he’s just an icon in Las Vegas.  

Nevada is a very odd place with lots of odd people. 

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of your home state? 

My favorite part is how it’s sunny almost every day. It’s almost never cloudy or rainy. My least favorite part is how hot it gets during the summer.  

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of Colorado? 

My favorite part of Colorado is the weather. I like the cold. My least favorite part is that everything closes so early. In Las Vegas, everything opens up at night. 

What drew you to CCU / Colorado? 

The community at CCU. I always wanted to go to a big state school but my counselor told me to check out CCU. So I came to the World Changers event and I loved the professors and class sizes.  

How has living in Colorado changed your lifestyle? 

I’m a lot more independent here. I was independent at home to a certain extent, but now I’m over 10 hours away from my family so I’m forced to be independent.  

If someone were to visit your home state, what would you recommend they do? 

They have to go to the Strip. You have to experience it once.  

Las Vegas gives off big city vibes. 

After graduation, do you plan on staying in Colorado, returning to your home state, or going somewhere else? 

Either stay in Colorado or go somewhere else. I love my home but I just like living in different environments. I don’t think I would stay in Colorado forever but maybe a little bit right after college.  

What are the most common stereotypes about your state and are they true? 

People think we live in hotels on the Strip. That’s not true. People also think we’re all partiers, which is also not true. There’s so many stereotypes. People will ask, “Have you ever been in a casino before?” Yes, of course I have. 

What is the most common reaction you get when you tell people where you’re from? 

People will be surprised. If they’ve been there before, they’ll ask what part I’m from and say, “Oh, that’s a nice area.” Sometimes people will ask if I know their friend who lives there and it’s weird because sometimes I actually do know them. 

What is something surprising about your state that most people don’t know? 

It’s actually kind of country-esque. We have professional bull riding and there’s a part of my town called Hendertucky instead of Henderson. My family loves country music and I used to take horseback riding lessons.