As an aspiring architect with a deep passion for historic preservation and adaptive reuse, I see Luminaut’s values as a guiding compass not only for professional growth but also for shaping spaces that uplift people and communities. Embodying "humble yet hungry, focused yet fun, super yet human" is not just about how I work, but why I work, to honor the past, transform the present, and imagine a more sustainable, inclusive future. Humble yet hungry speaks directly to my design philosophy. Humility grounds my practice in listening to sites, to histories, to people. Especially in preservation and reuse work, humility is essential: it means recognizing that every building holds stories greater than myself. At the same time, I remain hungry to learn, improve, and innovate. Whether it’s experimenting with material reuse technologies, diving into archival research, or engaging communities through participatory design, I’m eager to grow beyond convention. I’m driven by questions like: How can we make preservation more equitable? How can old buildings teach us about resilience and sustainability? Focused yet fun captures the way I approach both studio and real-world projects. Focus, for me, means setting clear intentions, whether I’m documenting a site, refining a model, or curating a visual narrative. It’s about doing the deep work with care and clarity. But I also believe that design thrives in joy and curiosity. I’ve learned that some of my best creative ideas come when I allow room to play, with sketches, with materials, even with code in p5.js. Bringing fun into the process helps me stay open-minded and collaborative, especially in interdisciplinary settings where architecture meets storytelling, technology, or social impact. Super yet human is perhaps the most meaningful to me. In architecture, it’s easy to aspire to the “super” to design iconic forms or tackle grand challenges. But I never want to lose sight of being human: empathetic, approachable, and attuned to how spaces feel and function for real people. I strive to create spaces that center dignity, belonging, and accessibility, especially in underrepresented communities. My work is deeply personal, too; I come from a background where architecture wasn't always accessible, so I understand the power of inclusive design. To be “super yet human” means striking a balance between ambition and authenticity, confidence and compassion. At Luminaut, I see a firm that doesn’t just design buildings, it builds culture, community, and meaning. I want to contribute not only as a designer but as a thoughtful teammate, someone who brings both rigor and warmth to the table. Whether that’s staying late to finesse a detail, or organizing a spontaneous sketch night with the team, I’m ready to show up with intention, creativity, and care. In sum, these values are not just words; they’re a mindset I carry with me in every step of my journey. As I grow from student to professional, I hope to embody the Luminaut spirit by designing with purpose, collaborating with heart, and always pushing the boundaries of what architecture can be.

During my freshman year of high school, I went to the doctor’s office for the first time to receive some basic tests and exams. As a recent immigrant from India, I found the experience harder than expected. Having a heavy accent didn’t help: my family and I had no idea what the doctor was saying, nor could the doctor understand what we were saying. When the doctor entered the room, he asked, “Can I get your full name, age, gender, and date of birth?” I tried to give him all my information through my thick Indian accent. “I...I am sorry,” he responded, “can you repeat that?” I tried telling him again, this time speaking more slowly. “Okay…” he said, scoffing in irritation, “Please wait here.” My family and I waited for about 15 minutes. Another doctor came in and asked me the same questions: “Could you tell me all of that again with a slower tone?” By this point, I was starting to get a little more confused, scared—even irritated. After this second conversation where the doctor still couldn’t understand what I was saying, another woman, who was Indian (or at least understood my accent), entered the room. She explained to the doctors what I had been trying to tell them and apologized to me. After this disaster of an appointment, I felt ashamed of my accent. Immigration is a hard process, especially if you are coming to a new country while also transitioning to high school. When I came to America, I experienced difficulties in terms of communication and cultural differences. Communication was hard for me because back in my home country of India, even though our school was English medium (all classes were taught in English), all of my classmates spoke my native language of Marathi. In America, whenever I tried to communicate, I came across an accent barrier that at first was hard to resolve. An Indian accent has a thick tone, which many people in America struggle to understand. And so I was, in a sense, forced to change my accent. When I think about my visit to the doctor, I feel inspired to learn how to treat people who need help, regardless of their background or language barriers. Because I know how hard it can be to struggle to communicate with a doctor, I would politely ask questions and try my best to make them feel comfortable. In this way, I would be able to give my patients the care they deserve.

During my freshman year of high school, I went to the doctor’s office for the first time to receive some basic tests and exams. As a recent immigrant from India, I found the experience harder than expected. Having a heavy accent didn’t help: my family and I had no idea what the doctor was saying, nor could the doctor understand what we were saying. When the doctor entered the room, he asked, “Can I get your full name, age, gender, and date of birth?” I tried to give him all my information through my thick Indian accent. “I...I am sorry,” he responded, “can you repeat that?” I tried telling him again, this time speaking more slowly. “Okay…” he said, scoffing in irritation, “Please wait here.” My family and I waited for about 15 minutes. Another doctor came in and asked me the same questions: “Could you tell me all of that again with a slower tone?” By this point, I was starting to get a little more confused, scared—even irritated. After this second conversation where the doctor still couldn’t understand what I was saying, another woman, who was Indian (or at least understood my accent), entered the room. She explained to the doctors what I had been trying to tell them and apologized to me. After this disaster of an appointment, I felt ashamed of my accent. Immigration is a hard process, especially if you are coming to a new country while also transitioning to high school. When I came to America, I experienced difficulties in terms of communication and cultural differences. Communication was hard for me because back in my home country of India, even though our school was English medium (all classes were taught in English), all of my classmates spoke my native language of Marathi. In America, whenever I tried to communicate, I came across an accent barrier that at first was hard to resolve, and Indian accent has a thick tone, which many people in America struggle to understand. And so I was, in a sense, forced to change my accent. During these difficult times, I thought I could learn more about my new surroundings through culture. I began watching a medical TV show that everyone was talking about in school: Grey’s Anatomy. From the very first episode I was hooked, but one particular episode spoke to me. In this episode, Izzy, a doctor, had just met a patient who spoke only Mandarin and who’d had a major accident involving her daughter. The patient came into the ER, attempting to speak to a doctor, but no one could speak Mandarin. Even though there was a barrier between them, the doctor did not give up. When I saw this episode, I knew that I was not the only one with a language barrier. I felt inspired by the doctor who didn’t let communication difficulties stop her from helping the patient. This got me excited about the possibility of being a medical professional. Through watching Grey’s Anatomy, I saw how every day brought new patients and new challenges. I decided that if I became a medical professional, I could have a sense of pride in helping others and could give people the patient care that I had not received because of my accent. When I think about my visit to the doctor, I feel inspired to learn how to treat people, regardless of their background or language barriers. Because I know how hard it can be to struggle to communicate with a doctor, I would try my best to make them feel comfortable.

During my freshman year of high school, I went to the doctor’s office for the first time to receive some basic tests and exams. As a recent immigrant from India, I found the experience harder than expected. Having a heavy accent didn’t help: my family and I had no idea what the doctor was saying, nor could the doctor understand what we were saying. When the doctor entered the room, he asked, “Can I get your full name, age, gender and date of birth?” I tried to give him all my information through my thick Indian accent. “I...I am sorry,” he responded, “can you repeat that?” I tried telling him again, this time speaking more slowly. “Okay…” he said, scoffing in irritation, “Please wait here.” My family and I waited for about 15 minutes. Another doctor came in and asked me the same questions: “Could you tell me all of that again with a slower tone?” By this point, I was starting to get a little more confused, scared—even irritated. After this second conversation where the doctor still couldn’t understand what I was saying, another woman, who was Indian (or at least understood my accent), entered the room. She explained to the doctors what I had been trying to tell them and apologized to me. After this disaster of an appointment, I felt ashamed of my accent. Immigration is a hard process, especially if you are coming to a new country while also transitioning to high school. When I came to America, I experienced difficulties in terms of communication and cultural differences. Communication was hard for me because back in my home country of India, even though our school was English medium (all classes were taught in English), all of my classmates spoke my native language of Marathi. In America, whenever I tried to communicate, I came across an accent barrier that at first was hard to resolve. An Indian accent has a thick tone, which many people in America struggle to understand. And so I was, in a sense, forced to change my accent. During these difficult times, I thought I could learn more about my new surroundings through culture. I began watching a medical TV show that everyone was talking about in school: Grey’s Anatomy. From the very first episode I was hooked, but one particular episode spoke to me. In this episode, Izzy, a doctor, had just met a patient who spoke only Mandarin and who’d had a major accident involving her daughter. The patient came into the ER, attempting to speak to a doctor, but no one could speak Mandarin. Even though there was a barrier between them, the doctor did not give up. Later, when the patient came back to the ER, the doctor followed her and discovered that the patient’s daughter was hurt outside in the rain and couldn’t move. When I saw this episode, I felt comforted knowing that I was not the only one with a language barrier. I felt inspired by the doctor who didn’t let communication difficulties stop her from helping the patient. This got me excited about the possibility of being a medical professional. Through watching Grey’s Anatomy, I saw how every day brought new patients and new challenges. I decided that if I became a medical professional, I could have a sense of pride in helping others. I could give people the patient care that I had not received because of my accent. When I think about my visit to the doctor, I feel inspired to learn how to treat people who need help, regardless of their background or language barriers. Because I know how hard it can be to struggle to communicate with a doctor, I would politely ask questions and try my best to make them feel comfortable. In this way, I would be able to give my patients the care they deserve.

I believe that my artwork is bold. This work of art is called a one-line drawing which I think very few people understand. I believe that if you understand this work of art, it means that you are suffering through something in life, no matter it is school work to depression, you need to feel inspired and need a piece of mind from some things. I think that my artwork represents boldness in a way that it makes you feel something is wrong with your life that you need to fix right away otherwise it might eat you some time.

I have spent almost four years in America, and being here has its ups and downs. Being around people with diverse cultures was hard for me initially, because I have grown up in India. Coming here after those precious moments with friends and family was somewhat devastating. Devastating, mostly because not all people understand the culture, nor can they pronounce my name right. “It’s KE-TA-KI, not KE-THA-KI.” But then I remember that I am no longer in my home country, and I try to forget it. The most conflicting part of it was the fact that I couldn't experience what people over here experience, and in a sense, it was good because I got to keep my culture and not dwell on the past. I am a first-generation Indian student in the United States, and even though being here is exhausting and confusing, I try to cope with it because I want ot be successful in my future and my career. My perceptions change in a sense that, I understand that there will be people who will let me down or in a sense not understand who I form the inside, I know that keeping one foot down will not allow me to reach a goal that I, for real, always dream of. Even though they don't understand my culture does not mean that I don't need to understand them. I am trying really hard to understand this different world and I am trying to take back what is best for me and my aspirations. I think that another challenge that I have faced s the generalizations and stereotypes, for example, all Indians are intelligent and that they all eat curry all the time. I had an experience when one of my "friends" told me that I always smell like garlic. I think that saying that really hurt me and I felt embarrassed about my culture for a minute. This was not only me but it was coming to my sister too. I want people to understand that it is what it is and you should not tell someone that they smell like garlic or Indian food a lot. Because of that event, I started to notice other Indian people in my school and I wondered if they ever experienced this. I never knew the answer, but it allowed me to change my thought on what other think of me and I tried to focus on myself more than thinking I will other think if I eat that or wear that. Now I know that no matter how much you change, there will always be that one person who is judging and from behind and you cannot look back on that moment. I think that these experiences will and have changed me for the better will and will continue to influence me for my future goals. REMINDER!!! BE YOURSELF, DON'T CARE WHAT OTHERS THINK!!! YOU DO YOU!! BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE!!! :) Thank you for reading my essay:)

Physican/Surgeon.