Up until recently, I struggled to find a major that genuinely piqued my interest. I always knew I wanted my job to be one in the engineering field, but general types of engineering never stayed within my desires for long. As a child I looked up to my aunt, and I remember saying “I want to do what you do” every time she got back from a business trip. The way she led her team and managed a plethora of projects really struck a nerve in me that no other field of engineering has been able to do thus far. For the longest time I thought I needed to go to an Ivy league school to have a chance at an adequate job in the applied sciences. However, not long ago, it was brought to my attention that she obtained her job after majoring in Architectural Engineering at UT Austin. All of a sudden, the years I spent observing my aunt guide others with confidence became my own opportunity to learn. Since then I’ve taken every chance to explore what architectural engineering truly entails ranging from understanding the balance between design and structure to seeing how innovation meets practicality. Architectural engineering stands at the intersection of creativity and precision. Here, imagination meets structure, and ideas take physical form. I’ve always been captivated by how structural design influences emotion such as the connection harboured in shared spaces. Personally, the opportunity to study this specific field means gaining the power to design not just buildings, but experiences that shape the way people live, move, and connect. With that being said, I would not take my studies lightly, for it has the potential to change someone’s life for the better or for the worse if not done meticulously. On the other hand, if I have the opportunity to study my greatest passion, I could not let the chance pass me by and be taken for granted. Not many people get to say that they were truly able to become who they wanted to be when they grow older, and I labor to say the opposite. The capacity to impact the world through design motivates me to pursue architectural engineering with purpose and integrity. I desire to approach my education not only as a means of mastering technical skills, but as a journey of understanding how those skills can serve those around me in my later developments. Black individuals make up 2% to 6.7%, and black women in this field represent 0.4% of lisenced architects. My hope is that with the completiton of my studies, I can inspire and influence young, black women that may be afraid to pursue a career where they will be underrepresented. I want them to see it as an opportunity for them to showcase their talents that shouldn't be withheld. In college, I hope to explore sustainable design solutions that balance between innovation and environmental responsibility, creating structures that both stand strong physically and stand for something exceptional. To me, developing this capacity means learning to see design as a language that can build resilience, foster belonging, and inspire progress. I've begun to picture myself in my aunt's place place: leading a team, meeting complex problems with solutions, and creating spaces that merge efficiency with creativity. Discovering this major has given me a renewed sense of purpose and direction, and I am eager to pursue it with the same dedication and passion that first inspired me all those years ago.

Everybody is afraid of the unknown, but it's in those uncertain moments that we discover our greatest strengths. The clouds drifted along, and cars zoomed wistfully past. People’s lives continued to move forward, but why did mine feel like it had stopped? My parents' shouts grew through the night, at soccer games, and in the car. My mind raced, wondering why I couldn’t predict the signs. My hand in my brother’s while we walked the streets of our neighborhood to escape from our new reality. We watched as families sat down for dinner through their windows, wondering why ours fell apart. As I grew up, I recognized how my mother worked tirelessly to provide for me. When finances got tight, she would do whatever she could to get us back on track. No one ever really prepares you for how hard it is to whitness your parental figure drain themslves to the point of exhaustion for you. So, in hopes of alieviating some of the burden and making it my own, I got a job. However, growing up with one parent present gave me more resilience. Cherishing the life we do have versus focusing on one we don’t is a blessing gained from my hardship. Painful memories are still intact from my experience; however, who I am now would not be possible without my past challenges. Moving forward, the weight of my experiences feels more like a strength rather than something holding me down. By continuing to nurture the bonds I make and serve those around me, I prove that combating family difficulties is not impossible. My future is clear because of the lessons learned and challenges having been endured. I hope that people will look at my hardship and see not sadness, but inspiration to persevere through similar experiences.

Everybody is afraid of the unknown, but it's in those uncertain moments that we discover our greatest strengths. “Stay still. 10…9…8…7…6…,” A man with a deep voice counts. Stay still? What’s going on? White and gray walls are swirling and the chill surrounding me harshly stings my skin. I can hear people rustling above me in a slight panic as a sterile, metallic scent cuts my nose. It gets colder...and darker. The room grows silent. …Then the sound of soft breaths of relief flooded the room. The beeping of the IV monitor brought me to a tiny enclosed hospital room. Was I dreaming, or was the anesthesia still wearing off? It couldn’t have been a dream. I can still recall every moment of my hospitalization from nine years ago. My condition being so foreign made it difficult to maintain hope of survival. It seemed as though the doctors themselves surrendered their faith; however, I was not ready to throw in the towel so easily. My brother walked in the room, hiding his quiet sobs. As he sat down, my hand met his face and I whispered “I’m going to be okay.” He let out a gentle shudder as my mom’s hand rested on my shoulder. “I love you so much.” She told me. I smiled at the words she spoke, but couldn't help but notice the tears welling in her eyes. “You know who loves me more? Jesus!” I replied back in an attempt to provide her with some hope. From a young age, it's always been evident that my faith in Jesus has been a pinnacle aspect that got me through my battles. My beliefs, determination, and overcoming spirit are all remnants of this period in my life, and they help guide me through my experiences today. The scent of trepidation sucked me back to that year again. It’s as if a time warp is forcing me to remember. The clouds drifted along, and cars zoomed wistfully past. People’s lives continued to move forward, but why did mine feel like it had stopped? My parents' shouts grew through the night, at soccer games, and in the car. My mind raced, wondering why I couldn’t predict the signs. My hand in my brother’s while we walked the streets of our neighborhood to escape from our new reality. We watched as families sat down for dinner through their windows, wondering why ours fell apart. However, growing up with one parent present gave me more resilience. As easy as it could’ve been for fear to creep into my heart, the uncertainty of my future still wasn’t something to be fearful of. Cherishing the life we do have versus focusing on one we don’t is a blessing gained from my hardship. Painful memories are still intact from each experience; however, who I am now would not be possible without my past challenges. Moving forward, the weight of my experiences feels more like a strength rather than something holding me down. The Strep A disease granted me an encounter with Jesus who was just out of reach because it wasn’t my time to go yet. I had much more to accomplish and many more lives to influence. My future is clear because of all the lessons learned and challenges having been endured. Jesus is who shaped me into the person I am today; rooted in my belief that he will get me through the hardships I withstand.

Everybody is afraid of the unknown, but it's in those uncertain moments that we discover our greatest strengths. “Stay still. 10…9…8…7…6…,” A man with a deep voice counts. Stay still? What’s going on? White and gray walls are swirling and the chill surrounding me harshly stings my skin. I can hear people rustling above me in a slight panic as a sterile, metallic scent cuts my nose. It gets colder...and darker. The room grows silent. …Then the sound of soft breaths of relief flooded the room. The beeping of the IV monitor brought me to a tiny enclosed hospital room. Was I dreaming, or was the anesthesia still wearing off? It couldn’t have been a dream. I can still recall every moment of my hospitalization from nine years ago. My condition being so foreign made it difficult to maintain hope of survival. It seemed as though the doctors themselves surrendered their faith; however, I was not ready to throw in the towel so easily. My brother walked in the room, hiding his quiet sobs. As he sat down, my hand met his face and I whispered “I’m going to be okay.” He let out a gentle shudder as my mom’s hand rested on my shoulder. “I love you so much.” She told me. I smiled at the words she spoke, but couldn't help but notice the tears welling in her eyes. “You know who loves me more? Jesus!” I replied back in an attempt to provide her with some hope. From a young age, it's always been evident that my faith in Jesus has been a pinnacle aspect that got me through my battles. My beliefs, determination, and overcoming spirit are all remnants of this period in my life, and they help guide me through my experiences today. Painful memories and physical worry is still intact from my experience; however, who I am now would not be possible without my past challenges. Moving forward, the weight of my experiences feels more like a strength rather than something holding me down. I strive and work to build a life for myself and influence others through my studies in Architectural Engineering. Fighting against the odds forced me to realize I must spend no time faltering on who I want to become and what I want to study. The Strep A disease granted me an encounter with Jesus who was just out of reach because it wasn’t my time to go yet. I had much more to accomplish and many more lives to influence. Although I must now live with consistantly monitoring my condition, my future is clear because of all the lessons learned and challenges having been endured. Jesus is who shaped me into the person I am today; rooted in my belief that he will get me through the hardships I withstand.

Up until recently, I struggled to find a major that genuinely piqued my interest. I always knew I wanted my job to be one in the engineering field, but general types of engineering never stayed within my desires for long. As a child I looked up to my aunt, and I remember saying “I want to do what you do” every time she got back from a business trip. The way she led her team and managed a plethora of projects really struck a nerve in me that no other field of engineering has been able to do thus far. For the longest time I thought I needed to go to an Ivy league school to have a chance at an adequate job in the applied sciences. However, not long ago, it was brought to my attention that she obtained her job after majoring in Architectural Engineering at UT Austin. All of a sudden, the years I spent observing my aunt guide others with confidence became my own opportunity to learn. Since then I’ve taken every chance to explore what architectural engineering truly entails ranging from understanding the balance between design and structure to seeing how innovation meets practicality. Architectural engineering stands at the intersection of creativity and precision. Here, imagination meets structure, and ideas take physical form. I’ve always been captivated by how structural design influences emotion such as the connection harboured in shared spaces. Personally, the opportunity to study this specific field means gaining the power to design not just buildings, but experiences that shape the way people live, move, and connect. With that being said, I would not take my studies lightly, for it has the potential to change someone’s life for the better or for the worse if not done meticulously. On the other hand, if I have the opportunity to study my greatest passion, I could not let the chance pass me by and be taken for granted. Not many people get to say that they were truly able to become who they wanted to be when they grow older, and I labor to say the opposite. The capacity to impact the world through design motivates me to pursue architectural engineering with purpose and integrity. I want to approach my education not only as a means of mastering technical skills, but as a journey of understanding how those skills can serve those around me in my later developments. In college, I hope to explore sustainable design solutions that balance between innovation and environmental responsibility, creating structures that both stand strong physically and stand for something exceptional. To me, developing this capacity means learning to see design as a language that can build resilience, foster belonging, and inspire progress. I've begun to picture myself in my aunt's place place: leading a team, meeting complex problems with solutions, and creating spaces that merge efficiency with creativity. Discovering this major has given me a renewed sense of purpose and direction, and I am eager to pursue it with the same dedication and passion that first inspired me all those years ago.