My “pie in the sky” dream is to create places that make people feel grounded, welcomed, and connected to the world around them. I want to design landscapes that are not just visually beautiful, but emotionally meaningful. Spaces where people can pause, breathe, and feel like they belong. While this dream feels deeply inspiring to me, it also feels just out of reach because it asks me to trust my creativity, step into uncertainty, and believe that my voice has value in shaping the world. This dream was sparked slowly, not through one dramatic moment, but through noticing how certain environments made me feel. I have always been sensitive to my surroundings. I notice how a shaded walkway can calm anxiety, how a park bench can become a place for quiet reflection, and how thoughtfully designed spaces encourage connection without forcing it. I began to realize that places shape people more than we often acknowledge. When I learned about landscape architecture, it felt like a language for something I had always intuitively understood. It gave form to my desire to create spaces that support both mental and environmental well being. At the same time, this dream feels intimidating. Landscape architecture requires confidence, technical skill, and the ability to put ideas into the world knowing they will be seen, critiqued, and sometimes changed. I am someone who values reflection and growth, and I sometimes struggle with self doubt. The idea of leading projects or advocating for sustainable design can feel overwhelming. Yet that fear is also what tells me this dream matters. If it did not challenge me, it would not feel worth pursuing. I believe reaching this dream will take both patience and courage. Academically, it means committing fully to my education, seeking out internships, and learning from professionals who are already doing the work I admire. It means developing technical skills while also trusting my creative instincts. Personally, it means becoming more comfortable with uncertainty. I will need to speak up, take creative risks, and accept that growth often comes from mistakes. I also know I will need to remain grounded in my values, especially my belief that design should serve people and the environment equally. Most importantly, this dream requires me to believe that I am allowed to imagine a meaningful future for myself. For a long time, I measured success by comparison or external validation. Now, my definition of success is quieter but stronger. It is creating work that feels purposeful and honest. It is knowing that something I designed helped someone feel more at ease in the world. My pie in the sky dream may feel just out of reach, but I am learning that dreams do not need to feel easy to be possible. They simply need commitment, curiosity, and the willingness to keep going even when the path feels uncertain. That is the kind of future I am working toward, one thoughtful step at a time.

My name is Edie Crandall, and I’m a Landscape Architecture major at Penn State. My passion for this field didn’t come all at once; it grew out of both joyful moments and painful ones. One of the most defining experiences of my life was a house fire that displaced me from my home. In the midst of that loss, I was overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure where I belonged. But during that time, I found unexpected peace and grounding in nature. Whether it was sitting in the grass, walking near trees, or just breathing in fresh air, I started to understand something powerful: even when everything else feels uncertain, the earth is still home. That experience shifted something in me. I began to see the environment not just as scenery but as something deeply healing. I realized that the spaces around us affect our sense of safety, identity, and connection, and I knew I wanted to be someone who could create those spaces for others. That’s what led me to landscape architecture, a field where creativity, sustainability, and purpose intersect. Throughout high school, I have always been someone who loves being involved. I served on student council, danced for years, and sought out leadership roles where I could support others. I find fulfillment in being part of something bigger than myself, and I carry that same spirit into my education now. I’m not just passionate; I’m resilient. I’ve faced uncertainty, loss, and personal growth, and I’ve come out of it more driven and more compassionate. I’ve also seen how mental health challenges can impact people I care about, and I’ve learned how important it is to create spaces, both physical and emotional, where people feel safe and supported. That’s what I hope to do through my work in landscape architecture. I want to design spaces that invite calm, connection, and care. This scholarship would mean the world to me, not just financially but as recognition of the journey I’ve taken and the future I’m building. I’m committed to using my experiences, my creativity, and my heart to create meaningful change through design.

My name is Edie Crandall, and I’m a Landscape Architecture major at Penn State. My passion for this field didn’t come all at once; it grew out of both joyful moments and painful ones. One of the most defining experiences of my life was a house fire that displaced me from my home. In the midst of that loss, I was overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure where I belonged. But during that time, I found unexpected peace and grounding in nature. Whether it was sitting in the grass, walking near trees, or just breathing in fresh air, I started to understand something powerful: even when everything else feels uncertain, the earth is still home. That experience shifted something in me. I began to see the environment not just as scenery but as something deeply healing. I realized that the spaces around us affect our sense of safety, identity, and connection, and I knew I wanted to be someone who could create those spaces for others. That’s what led me to landscape architecture, a field where creativity, sustainability, and emotional well-being come together. I graduated from Souderton Area High School, where I served on the student council, danced for years, and took on leadership roles that allowed me to support others. Through these experiences, I also learned how mental health affects nearly everyone in some way. Friends, classmates, and even teachers struggled silently, afraid to speak up because of the stigma surrounding their emotions. It made me realize that the first step toward ending that stigma is talking openly about mental health, not as a weakness but as a part of being human. As a society, I believe we can end the stigma around mental health by creating spaces, both physical and emotional, where people feel safe to be themselves. That means encouraging honest conversations, integrating mental health education into schools, and designing environments that promote calm and connection. We can normalize seeking help just as we do for physical health, and we can model empathy in our communities and workplaces. Through landscape architecture, I want to play a part in that change. I hope to design spaces that nurture peace, reflection, and belonging, places that remind people they are grounded and supported. My journey has taught me that healing can come from the spaces we build and the compassion we share. This scholarship would mean the world to me, not just financially but as recognition of the journey I’ve taken and the purpose I’m pursuing. I’m committed to using my creativity and resilience to create meaningful change both in landscapes and in lives.

My name is Edie Crandall, and I’m a Landscape Architecture major at Penn State. My passion for this field didn’t come all at once it grew out of both joyful moments and painful ones. One of the most defining experiences of my life was a house fire that displaced me from my home. In the midst of that loss, I was overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure where I belonged. But during that time, I found unexpected peace and grounding in nature. Whether it was sitting in the grass, walking near trees, or just breathing in fresh air, I started to understand something powerful: even when everything else feels uncertain, the earth is still home. That experience shifted something in me. I began to see the environment not just as scenery, but as something deeply healing. I realized that the spaces around us affect our sense of safety, identity, and connection and I knew I wanted to be someone who could create those spaces for others. That’s what led me to landscape architecture: a field where creativity, sustainability, and purpose intersect. I later took a gap semester in Hawaii, where I saw firsthand how the land is honored and deeply integrated into everyday life. It was a continuation of what I had started to feel after the fire this desire to design with meaning and to protect the spaces that protect us. I came back with a new sense of direction, ready to build a life around creating environments that support people emotionally, socially, and environmentally. Throughout high school, I’ve always been someone who loves being involved. I served on student council, danced for years, and sought out leadership roles where I could support others. I find fulfillment in being part of something bigger than myself, and I carry that same spirit into my education now. I’m not just passionate I’m resilient. I’ve faced uncertainty, loss, and personal growth, and I’ve come out of it more driven and more compassionate. I’ve also seen how mental health challenges can impact people I care about, and I’ve learned how important it is to create spaces both physical and emotional where people feel safe and supported. That’s what I hope to do through my work in landscape architecture. I want to design spaces that invite calm, connection, and care. This scholarship would mean the world to me not just financially, but as recognition of the journey I’ve taken and the future I’m building. I’m committed to using my experiences, my creativity, and my heart to create meaningful change through design. Thank you for your time and for considering my story.

My name is Edie Crandall, and I’m a Landscape Architecture major at Penn State. My passion for this field didn’t come all at once—it grew out of both joyful moments and painful ones. One of the most defining experiences of my life was a house fire that displaced me from my home. In the midst of that loss, I was overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure where I belonged. But during that time, I found unexpected peace and grounding in nature. Whether it was sitting in the grass, walking near trees, or just breathing in fresh air, I started to understand something powerful: even when everything else feels uncertain, the earth is still home. That experience shifted something in me. I began to see the environment not just as scenery, but as something deeply healing. I realized that the spaces around us affect our sense of safety, identity, and connection—and I knew I wanted to be someone who could create those spaces for others. That’s what led me to landscape architecture: a field where creativity, sustainability, and purpose intersect. I later took a gap semester in Hawaii, where I saw firsthand how the land is honored and deeply integrated into everyday life. It was a continuation of what I had started to feel after the fire—this desire to design with meaning and to protect the spaces that protect us. I came back with a new sense of direction, ready to build a life around creating environments that support people emotionally, socially, and environmentally. Throughout high school, I’ve always been someone who loves being involved. I served on student council, danced for years, and sought out leadership roles where I could support others. I find fulfillment in being part of something bigger than myself, and I carry that same spirit into my education now. I’m not just passionate—I’m resilient. I’ve faced uncertainty, loss, and personal growth, and I’ve come out of it more driven and more compassionate. I’ve also seen how mental health challenges can impact people I care about, and I’ve learned how important it is to create spaces—both physical and emotional—where people feel safe and supported. That’s what I hope to do through my work in landscape architecture. I want to design spaces that invite calm, connection, and care. This scholarship would mean the world to me—not just financially, but as recognition of the journey I’ve taken and the future I’m building. I’m committed to using my experiences, my creativity, and my heart to create meaningful change through design. Thank you for your time and for considering my story.

My name is Edie Crandall, and I’m a Landscape Architecture major at Penn State. My passion for this field didn’t come all at once—it grew out of both joyful moments and painful ones. One of the most defining experiences of my life was a house fire that displaced me from my home. In the midst of that loss, I was overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure where I belonged. But during that time, I found unexpected peace and grounding in nature. Whether it was sitting in the grass, walking near trees, or just breathing in fresh air, I started to understand something powerful: even when everything else feels uncertain, the earth is still home. That experience shifted something in me. I began to see the environment not just as scenery, but as something deeply healing. I realized that the spaces around us affect our sense of safety, identity, and connection—and I knew I wanted to be someone who could create those spaces for others. That’s what led me to landscape architecture: a field where creativity, sustainability, and purpose intersect. I later took a gap semester in Hawaii, where I saw firsthand how the land is honored and deeply integrated into everyday life. It was a continuation of what I had started to feel after the fire—this desire to design with meaning and to protect the spaces that protect us. I came back with a new sense of direction, ready to build a life around creating environments that support people emotionally, socially, and environmentally. Throughout high school, I’ve always been someone who loves being involved. I served on student council, danced for years, and sought out leadership roles where I could support others. I find fulfillment in being part of something bigger than myself, and I carry that same spirit into my education now. I’m not just passionate—I’m resilient. I’ve faced uncertainty, loss, and personal growth, and I’ve come out of it more driven and more compassionate. I’ve also seen how mental health challenges can impact people I care about, and I’ve learned how important it is to create spaces—both physical and emotional—where people feel safe and supported. That’s what I hope to do through my work in landscape architecture. I want to design spaces that invite calm, connection, and care. This scholarship would mean the world to me—not just financially, but as recognition of the journey I’ve taken and the future I’m building. I’m committed to using my experiences, my creativity, and my heart to create meaningful change through design. Thank you for your time and for considering my story.

When I stepped off the plane in Hawaii for my gap semester, I didn’t know that the natural beauty around me would redefine my goals. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, native plants, and a deep respect for the land, I realized how powerful space and design can be. It was there that I became certain I wanted to pursue Landscape Architecture—a field where art, nature, and impact meet. Now, as a student at Penn State majoring in Landscape Architecture, I’m excited to turn that inspiration into action. My goal is to design outdoor spaces that are sustainable, inclusive, and meaningful—spaces that people feel connected to. I’ve always loved art and design, but it was my time in Hawaii that helped me see how those passions could be used to help communities and the environment thrive together. Throughout high school, I made it a priority to be involved. I danced for years, served on student council, and always looked for ways to contribute to something bigger than myself. Whether it was organizing events or helping others feel seen, I loved working as part of a team. That same energy is what I bring to my studies now: I want to be part of shaping the world around me, and I know that Landscape Architecture is the path where I can do that creatively and with purpose. This scholarship would help relieve the financial pressure of college and give me more freedom to focus fully on my education and growth. I’m committed to making the most of my time at Penn State—not just in the classroom, but by getting involved, collaborating with others, and learning from every opportunity I can. Your support would mean more than just financial assistance—it would be a vote of confidence in who I am and the work I hope to do. Thank you for considering my application and helping students like me pursue their passions.