During my 11th grade year when I took AP Seminar, I got the opportunity to research sustainable architecture and infrastructure and how it can be implemented. As I conducted my research, I noticed that, while sustainable infrastructure is becoming more prevalent, particularly in metropolitan areas, minority communities frequently lack access to such services due to rising prices, leading them to relocate to less sustainable areas. Becoming an architecture, provides a unique opportunity to remedy historical imbalances, develop inclusive settings, and promote environmentally sustainable infrastructure, particularly in black communities and communities predominantly with people of color. Black communities and people of color have long suffered systemic discrimination in urban planning and housing practices. Redlining, urban redevelopment initiatives, and discriminatory financing practices have disenfranchised these neighborhoods, resulting in insufficient housing, poor infrastructure, and economic disenfranchisement. Architects of color may help reverse these inequalities by advocating for fair development and creating inclusive environments. Architects can ensure that new constructions do not displace current citizens, but rather improve their quality of life, by focusing on sustainability and accessibility. They can also assist modify zoning regulations and construction standards to prevent future discrimination and promote equitable housing. The built environment has a profound influence on social dynamics and community well-being. Architects have the capacity to create settings that promote inclusion and social harmony. Community centers, parks, and public spaces created by architects of color may function as cultural hubs, encouraging social interaction and community involvement. These places can feature educational programs, cultural events, and social services, offering locals resources and opportunities. Schools, healthcare institutions, and commercial places that are culturally sensitive and inclusive can better serve the community's various needs Historically, the field of architecture has proven to lack diversity, with Black architects and architects of color underrepresented. Black and other students of color who pursue professions in architecture can assist to shift this dynamic by bringing different perspectives and experiences to the field. Apprenticeship and outreach initiatives for young people of color help motivate the future generation of architects. These initiatives may illustrate the effect and value of diversity in architecture by emphasizing the achievements and contributions of architects of color. Furthermore, pushing for more inclusive educational and professional settings at architectural schools and firms may contribute to a more supportive and equitable industry. Environmental justice is an urgent concern for many Black communities, which frequently suffer the burden of environmental deterioration and pollution as a result of historical injustices in urban design and industrial development. Sustainable architecture addresses these discrepancies by producing healthier, more resilient living conditions. Green construction methods, such as using non-toxic materials, energy-efficient systems, and improving indoor air quality, may have a major impact on residents' health and well-being. Furthermore, sustainable designs that include natural components, such as green roofs, urban gardens, and more green areas, can assist to minimize urban heat islands, pollution, and enhance biodiversity. Architects may also push for and install renewable energy alternatives, such as solar panels and wind turbines, to minimize reliance on fossil fuels and lower energy costs for citizens. This not only solves environmental issues, but it also promotes energy independence and resilience in the face of climate change.

During my 11th grade year when I took AP Seminar, I got the opportunity to research sustainable architecture and infrastructure and how it can be implemented. As I conducted my research, I noticed that, while sustainable infrastructure is becoming more prevalent, particularly in metropolitan areas, minority communities frequently lack access to such services due to rising prices, leading them to relocate to less sustainable areas. Majoring in a STEM field, such as architecture, provides a unique opportunity to remedy historical imbalances, develop inclusive settings, and promote environmentally sustainable infrastructure, particularly in black communities and communities predominantly with people of color. Black communities and people of color have long suffered systemic discrimination in urban planning and housing practices. Redlining, urban redevelopment initiatives, and discriminatory financing practices have disenfranchised these neighborhoods, resulting in insufficient housing, poor infrastructure, and economic disenfranchisement. Architects of color may help reverse these inequalities by advocating for fair development and creating inclusive environments. Architects can ensure that new constructions do not displace current citizens, but rather improve their quality of life, by focusing on sustainability and accessibility. They can also assist modify zoning regulations and construction standards to prevent future discrimination and promote equitable housing. The built environment has a profound influence on social dynamics and community well-being. Architects have the capacity to create settings that promote inclusion and social harmony. Community centers, parks, and public spaces created by architects of color may function as cultural hubs, encouraging social interaction and community involvement. These places can feature educational programs, cultural events, and social services, offering locals resources and opportunities. Schools, healthcare institutions, and commercial places that are culturally sensitive and inclusive can better serve the community's various needs Historically, the field of architecture has proven to lack diversity, with Black architects and architects of color underrepresented. Black and other students of color who pursue professions in architecture can assist to shift this dynamic by bringing different perspectives and experiences to the field. Apprenticeship and outreach initiatives for young people of color help motivate the future generation of architects. These initiatives may illustrate the effect and value of diversity in architecture by emphasizing the achievements and contributions of architects of color. Furthermore, pushing for more inclusive educational and professional settings at architectural schools and firms may contribute to a more supportive and equitable industry. Environmental justice is an urgent concern for many Black communities, which frequently suffer the burden of environmental deterioration and pollution as a result of historical injustices in urban design and industrial development. Sustainable architecture addresses these discrepancies by producing healthier, more resilient living conditions. Green construction methods, such as using non-toxic materials, energy-efficient systems, and improving indoor air quality, may have a major impact on residents' health and well-being. Furthermore, sustainable designs that include natural components, such as green roofs, urban gardens, and more green areas, can assist to minimize urban heat islands, pollution, and enhance biodiversity. Architects may also push for and install renewable energy alternatives, such as solar panels and wind turbines, to minimize reliance on fossil fuels and lower energy costs for citizens. This not only solves environmental issues, but it also promotes energy independence and resilience in the face of climate change.

"Their former likenesses mottled and sank To something that was both of them and neither; And so transformed, it slowly left the bank." (Dante Inferno 25.73-75) Is sin simply an inevitable action or a detrimental conversion? In Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy," sin is the driving force behind the narrative journey through the three realms of the afterlife. Throughout the poem, Dante provides a vivid and terrifying portrayal of the harsh consequences of sin and the redemptive journey toward life in heaven. The punishments in each level of hell are meticulously designed to fit the sins committed, exemplifying a deeply symbolic and moralistic approach. Dante's diction and syntax reveal the ways in which sin will corrupt and degrade man to unrecognizable lengths. Dante believes that sin will invasively distort man into an entity unrecognizable to both man and God. When describing the process of change between the man and the monster their appearances were “mottled” (Dante 25.73). The diction choice of “mottled” illustrates that sin is something that completely transforms man into a new state. Sin makes man stained, tainted, unclean. Not only is man marked but sinning smears the lines of morality making it easier to sin each time. Later, according to Dante the creature is ‘both of them and neither” (Dante Inferno 25.74). In the syntax of this quote everything seems to be intertwined, just as the new unknown creature is. With the correlative conjunctions “of them” and neither are strung together although they are opposing ideas. This further exemplifies the melting of sin and man to an unrecognizable being. After the process was finished, Dante states “and so transformed, it slowly left the bank” (Dante Inferno 25.75). The use of “transformed” here as a participle further indicates Dante's belief that sin changes man. This change of a word from verb to adjective is paralleled by the change of man and monster to a completely new being. Sin warps how a man should think about right and wrong and morality. Along with this, the image of the creature slowly departing also suggests a probable loss of willingness to leave the location of sin, which would lead to an easier repeat of sin from this point forth. This would be one of the many ways sin will corrupt man According to Dante, when people sin, they are actively descending to an immensely lower level of humanity. He states that the man and the monster’s former likenesses sank “to something that was both of them and neither” (Dante Inferno 25.74). Dante no longer recognizes the beast and the man as separate creatures and no longer utilizes definite pronouns after they have merged into a single entity. The birthing of this creature from man and sin is an unknown entity. It does not get to be defined, exhibiting both a loss of value and humanization. Once the transformation is complete “it slowly [leaves] the bank” (Dante Inferno 25.75). Similarly, the use of “it” further exemplifies the dehumanization that sin is. This creature of man and sin is no longer recognized by either of their previous forms. However, the use of it here especially dehumanizes the being that once was a man. He is no longer acknowledged as a person but now as an object. Not only is sinning wrong but according to Dante, it is disrespectful to man. Choosing to sin is choosing to degrade oneself. Ultimately, Dante's language and syntax illustrates the extent to which sin corrupts and degrades man. Sin is a universal and essential factor that affects the human experience. Throughout the poem, Dante constantly warns man of the dangers and consequences of sin. Understanding and being able to manage sin is a critical component of the journey to heaven and becoming a person of God.