I have learned that some of the most important questions begin when we recognize that the way things are is not necessarily the way they have to be. During my architectural education, I became increasingly interested in how the built environment influences people's health and access to essential resources. I wanted to understand why some neighborhoods face greater environmental challenges and how design could help address those inequities. That curiosity became the foundation of my thesis, Rooted and Rising in Resilience. For this project, I focused on the Bronx, New York, exploring how food insecurity, infrastructure, and environmental vulnerabilities intersect with residents' everyday lives. I became interested in the relationship between food access and the larger systems that shape a neighborhood. Access to fresh food is not simply a matter of whether a grocery store exists nearby. It is also connected to how resources are distributed and how environmental conditions affect people's ability to live healthy lives. I wanted to explore a better approach than treating these challenges as separate problems. I developed a proposal for a vertical farming facility integrated with community-centered spaces, creating an opportunity to connect local food production with resources for neighborhood residents. I also explored sustainable building strategies that could strengthen the project's environmental performance. Insulated glazing could help manage heat transfer and reduce energy demand, while solar panels could provide renewable electricity. My design considered stormwater management to help address rainfall on site, along with strategically placed trees to provide shade and mitigate urban heat. Together, these strategies allowed me to consider how one project could respond to food access while reducing its environmental footprint. Developing this proposal required me to look beyond the building itself. I studied the surrounding neighborhood and its infrastructure, sought guidance from my professors and thesis advisor, and engaged with Bronx-based organizations to better understand the local context. These perspectives helped me consider how a design could respond to existing needs rather than impose a solution based solely on my assumptions. Although my thesis was a design proposal rather than an implemented project, the process changed how I approach problem-solving. I learned that a compelling idea is only a starting point. A solution must account for the systems around it, the people it is intended to serve, and the resources required to sustain it over time. This experience strengthened my decision to pursue Sustainability Science at Columbia University. I want to deepen my understanding of environmental systems and apply that knowledge to architecture in ways that improve environmental conditions and protect human well-being. I now approach the question, “There has to be a better way,” by looking for the underlying causes of a problem and considering how thoughtful design can address them together. Ultimately, I hope to help create buildings and infrastructure that contribute to healthier environments and give communities greater opportunities to thrive.

It’s beautiful to witness women that dwell in the fullness of their potential, confidently and gracefully immersed in their boundless capacity to change lives and uplift communities. These women not only hold themselves to the highest standard; they emanate a level of excellence that is felt by all of the lives through which their work becomes intertwined. This is the kind of woman I aspire to become. To me, excellence is not simply about personal achievement. It is about what we choose to do with the knowledge, opportunities, and abilities we have been given. I believe we each have a responsibility to use what we learn to serve others, and this belief has shaped both my education and the future I hope to build. After earning my architectural degrees at Howard University, I chose to pursue Sustainability Science at Columbia University to deepen my understanding of how the built environment affects human health and the natural world. My architectural education taught me that buildings do more than provide shelter. They influence how people live, the resources they consume, and the quality of the environments they inhabit. I want to bring architecture and sustainability science together to help create healthier, more resilient places, particularly in communities that have historically been overlooked. My commitment to service has also shaped the person I am becoming. Through Circle K International at Howard, I participated in food drives, assembled hygiene bags for women experiencing homelessness, and helped collect school supplies. Now, as treasurer of Build It Green at Columbia, I help support activities that bring students together around sustainability within the built environment. These experiences have reinforced my belief that meaningful change begins when we recognize a need and decide to contribute what we can. As I continue my education, I hope to become a woman whose work reflects both professional excellence and genuine care for others. I want to help shape environments where people can live healthier lives and feel that their needs matter. More importantly, I hope to encourage others to recognize the value of their own abilities and use them with intention. For me, a meaningful legacy is not measured only by what I accomplish, but by the lives made better through what I choose to do with what I have learned.

As a Black woman pursuing an education in architecture and sustainability science, I have become increasingly aware of what it means to enter fields where people who share my background remain underrepresented. According to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, Black women make up less than 1% of architects in the United States. Knowing this has shaped how I view my place in the profession. It has made me more conscious of the barriers that can make certain career paths feel inaccessible, but it has also strengthened my determination to continue pursuing them. I want to contribute to a field in which more perspectives are represented in the decisions that shape how people live. My educational journey at Howard University helped me develop the confidence to pursue that goal. Earning my Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Design Studies and my Master of Architecture challenged me to grow beyond what I already knew. During my studies, I became increasingly aware of gaps in my understanding of how buildings interact with their surroundings and influence environmental conditions and human health. Rather than allowing those gaps to diminish my confidence, I began to see them as opportunities to take greater ownership of my education. I realized that I could seek out the knowledge I needed to become a more thoughtful designer. That realization led me to pursue graduate studies in Sustainability Science at Columbia University. Entering a new academic environment has required me to adapt, ask questions, and become comfortable with being a learner again. At times, stepping into unfamiliar spaces can bring uncertainty about whether I belong or whether I am prepared for the challenges ahead. I have learned, however, that I do not need to know everything before I begin. I need the willingness to learn, the confidence to ask questions, and the conviction to keep moving toward the work I believe matters. My experiences have shaped my future goals as well. I want to bring architecture and sustainability science together to better understand how buildings affect human health and the environments around them. I am especially interested in how design decisions influence communities that have historically been overlooked. I believe the people shaping our built environment should reflect a wider range of lived experiences, because those experiences can influence which questions are asked, whose needs are considered, and what possibilities are imagined. As I continue my education, I hope to grow into a professional who contributes both technical knowledge and a perspective shaped by my own journey. I also want other underrepresented students to see that they can pursue demanding fields without waiting for the path to become familiar or easy. My education has taught me that recognizing what I still have to learn is not a weakness. It is a reason to keep going. I want to use that conviction to help shape a built environment that serves people more thoughtfully and to help make room for those who will follow.

I believe that each of us has something to offer, and that part of living with purpose is learning to be a good steward of what we have been given. For me, service means recognizing my abilities, opportunities, and resources as things I can use to help others. I try to approach my everyday responsibilities with this mindset, remaining open to the ways I can contribute, whether through a skill I have developed or simply a willingness to show up when someone needs support. One of the ways I have practiced this is through playing piano during church services. Music has allowed me to share a skill I have cultivated in support of a community that brings people together through worship. I have also participated in youth ministries and Christmas programs, offering my time to help create meaningful experiences for others. These opportunities have taught me that being of service does not always mean taking the lead. Sometimes, it means becoming a vessel through which something meaningful can reach another person. I have learned to value the opportunity to contribute, even when my role is behind the scenes. At Howard University, I expanded my service through Circle K International. I participated in food drives, assembled hygiene bags for women experiencing homelessness, and helped organize school supply drives for students. I also joined environmental cleanups at Banneker Park and supported health awareness initiatives focused on sickle cell disease and breast health. These experiences reminded me that service begins with looking beyond my own circumstances and recognizing where I might be able to help. As Treasurer, I managed budgets, reported financial statements, and proposed ways to strengthen the organization's finances so it could continue funding service initiatives. I came to understand that stewardship includes caring for the resources entrusted to me so they can be used to support others. Now, as a graduate student at Columbia University, I continue this commitment as Treasurer of Build It Green, a student organization that fosters engagement with sustainability through educational and social activities. I help manage organizational funds and work with the executive board to support events, tours, and gatherings that bring students together around shared interests. I see this role as another opportunity to be intentional with what I have to offer, helping create spaces where students can connect, exchange ideas, and deepen their engagement with sustainability. Across these experiences, I have learned that excellence is not simply about what I accomplish individually. It is also about how thoughtfully I use my abilities and how reliably I fulfill my responsibilities to others. I want to remain a good steward of the opportunities I receive and a vessel through which my skills, knowledge, and time can benefit the people around me. The communities I have been part of have helped shape who I am, and I hope to honor that influence by continuing to serve with humility, intention, and care.

To me, a spirit of excellence is reflected in the care I bring to the responsibilities entrusted to me, especially when the work is quiet or goes unrecognized. I try to approach my education, leadership, and service with the understanding that doing something well is not only about personal achievement. It is also about respecting the people who depend on me and making the most of what I have been given. At Howard University, I found meaningful ways to put that belief into practice through Circle K International. I participated in food drives, assembled hygiene bags for women experiencing homelessness, and helped collect school supplies for students. I also joined environmental cleanups at Banneker Park and supported health awareness efforts focused on sickle cell disease and breast health. Each activity addressed a different need, but all encouraged me to look beyond my own circumstances and consider how I could contribute. These experiences taught me that service does not always require a grand gesture. Sometimes it begins with giving your time, following through on a commitment, and recognizing the dignity of the people you serve. As Treasurer and Social Media Coordinator, I also learned the importance of being dependable behind the scenes and helping sustain an organization’s work. Through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, I found another way to connect service with my academic interests. As Event Co-Chair for a program focused on architecture, housing equity, and community development in Washington, D.C., I helped support a conversation about how the built environment affects people's everyday lives. Exploring issues such as housing affordability and neighborhood identity reinforced my belief that serving others requires listening to their experiences and taking their needs seriously, especially when decisions about their neighborhoods are being made. My understanding of excellence has also been shaped by my education. During my time at Howard, I became increasingly aware of how much I still needed to learn about the relationship between buildings, the environment, and human well-being. Rather than allowing those gaps to discourage me, I treated them as a reason to keep growing. That conviction led me to pursue graduate studies in Sustainability Science at Columbia University. I want to understand how the places we design can better support the people who inhabit them and reduce harm to the environment. As I continue my education, I carry the lessons of my service experiences with me. I hope to build a career in which I can use my knowledge to help create healthier, more sustainable environments, particularly in communities that have historically been overlooked. To me, excellence means remaining willing to learn, being accountable for the work I do, and remembering who that work is meant to serve. Harriett Russell Carr’s legacy of selfless giving reflects the kind of person I aspire to become. I want to continue contributing wherever I can, approaching each responsibility with care and using the opportunities I receive to create opportunities for others.

Pursuing my graduate education at Columbia University has been one of the greatest leaps of faith I have ever taken. After completing my Master of Architecture at Howard University, I felt called to continue my education in Sustainability Science. Architecture taught me to look beyond the structures we design and consider the lives shaped by the environments we create. It also taught me that accountability should prompt agency. When I recognize a gap in my understanding, I have a responsibility to investigate it further, because decisions about the built environment can have lasting consequences for the people who inhabit it. That belief led me to Sustainability Science. I want to expand my understanding of how buildings interact with environmental conditions and how those relationships influence human well-being. By bringing scientific knowledge into architectural practice, I hope to make more informed choices about sustainable design and the long-term effects of the places we create. Columbia gives me the opportunity to explore these questions across disciplines, while studying in New York City places me close to the complex sustainability challenges that make this work urgent and tangible. I can learn from the city itself and from the people working to address its environmental needs. I also hope to continue building a professional network that will challenge my thinking and help me translate what I learn into practice. Choosing this path, however, meant accepting uncertainty. I applied to Columbia after discovering an HBCU fellowship that would have covered my tuition and provided additional support. Although I was not selected, I still chose to attend, knowing I was stepping into a financial reality I could not fully anticipate, but believing deeply enough in this opportunity to take the chance. My parents have encouraged this leap of faith and supported me in the capacity they can. Still, tuition and the cost of living in New York have left me uncertain about how I will afford the remaining two semesters of my program. I continue forward without having every answer. This experience has taught me that faith can mean taking the next step even when I cannot see the entire path ahead. I remain committed to pursuing the knowledge I believe I have a responsibility to seek. This scholarship would ease a very real financial burden and help me remain in a program that is expanding how I understand sustainable design. It would support my continued growth as a student and future professional, allowing me to make the most of Columbia’s interdisciplinary learning environment, connections, and proximity to the sustainability issues I hope to address through my work. I want to carry that knowledge into architectural practice and make decisions with greater understanding of their environmental and human consequences. This scholarship would help me continue that pursuit with greater stability and bring me closer to the kind of architect I am working to become.

One of the hardest obstacles I have faced in pursuing higher education has been learning to trust my own voice while managing the pressure I place on myself. Studying architecture at Howard University demanded long hours of refining and defending my ideas. The workload was intense, and I often felt that there was always more I could do. Alongside the demands of the discipline, I struggled with questioning whether my ideas were strong enough or whether I was doing enough to deserve my place. Rather than recognizing that growth required patience, I often responded to doubt by working harder. That pattern became difficult to sustain. I wanted to excel academically and make the most of every opportunity, but I also carried a deep desire to become financially capable of supporting my family. I felt pressure to prepare for a future in which I could give back to my parents, even while I was still working to establish myself. Between architecture's demanding workload and my own expectations, I struggled to recognize my limits. Rest could feel like falling behind, and I sometimes measured my dedication by how much exhaustion I could endure. My mother helped me begin to understand myself differently. Through her encouragement, she helped me strengthen my relationship with God and reconsider what faith meant to me. I began to understand that faith did not mean knowing how everything would work out. It meant trusting that God could be working in ways beyond my understanding, even when my circumstances remained unchanged. I came to realize that sometimes the situation had not changed, but my capacity to face it had. I could approach challenges with greater peace without needing every uncertainty resolved first. That understanding became especially important when I recently began graduate studies in Sustainability Science at Columbia University. I had applied after discovering an HBCU fellowship that would have covered my tuition and provided additional support. When I was not selected, I still chose to attend because I felt called to the program. My parents have supported me as much as possible, but tuition and the cost of living in New York leaves me uncertain about how I will afford the remaining semesters. My mother's guidance has helped me navigate that uncertainty while reconsidering what perseverance requires of me. I am learning to trust my ideas without needing constant reassurance and to pursue my ambitions without believing I must carry everything alone. Higher education has challenged me to grow intellectually, but it has also changed how I understand strength. I no longer want to confuse exhaustion with excellence. I want to build a future in which I can contribute meaningfully and support my family while also recognizing my own limits. My mother helped me see that faith does not require me to know the entire path ahead. Sometimes, it simply gives me the courage to take the next step.

My effect on women’s empowerment is closely connected to my decision to pursue architecture and continue expanding my education into sustainability science. At Howard University, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Design Studies and Master of Architecture. Through that experience, I became more aware of the importance of women seeing themselves represented in fields that shape the world around us. Representation matters because it can influence what someone believes is possible for them. I want my presence in architecture and related areas of STEM to be an example that encourages other women to pursue their curiosity and develop expertise in fields where they may not always see themselves reflected. My involvement with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated through the Alpha Chapter at Howard University has given me another opportunity to contribute to that representation. As an Event Co-Chair, I helped develop a program focused on architecture, housing equity, and community development in Washington, D.C. The program created an opportunity to discuss how architecture and planning influence the communities around us while introducing others to the broader role that design can play in society. Being able to connect my academic field with service has been meaningful to me because I believe empowerment grows when women have opportunities to share what they know and encourage others to become curious about fields they may not have previously considered. I am continuing to build on this through my upcoming Master of Science in Sustainability Science at Columbia University. I see Sustainability Science as a way to enrich my architectural education and help me pursue sustainable design with a deeper understanding of the environmental systems connected to the built environment. My path reflects the value of allowing women to move across disciplines and develop knowledge that may not fit neatly within one field. I want to contribute to STEM not only through the work I eventually produce, but also through the perspective I bring as a woman trained across architecture and sustainability. As I continue my education and career, I hope my presence can make STEM feel more accessible to other women. I want young women to see that they do not have to limit themselves to one area of interest or wait for permission to explore something unfamiliar. There is value in being curious, developing your own knowledge, and bringing that knowledge into spaces where it can make a difference. My goal is to use my education and career to contribute to sustainable design while helping create greater visibility for women who are finding their own place in STEM.

My journey has been shaped by a curiosity about how we design the built environment and how those decisions affect the world around us. Architecture became the foundation through which I began exploring these questions. As my education progressed, I realized that understanding how to design a building was only part of understanding its relationship to the larger systems around it. That realization led me to pursue Sustainability Science as a way to enrich my architectural background and develop a stronger foundation for pursuing sustainable design. At Howard University, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Design Studies and Master of Architecture. Architecture taught me to approach problems with curiosity and to recognize that meaningful solutions require both creativity and careful thought. My education pushed me to question my assumptions and reconsider my ideas when a new perspective revealed something I had not previously understood. I also came to appreciate the unique knowledge individuals develop through education and deep engagement with their fields. When that knowledge is shared, it can create a collective capacity to address challenges in ways that no one person could accomplish alone. My thesis research on vertical farming, food access, and community resilience expanded the questions I was asking about the built environment. I began thinking more deeply about how architecture connects with food systems and the resources communities depend upon. The research also made me aware of how much I still wanted to understand. Instead of seeing the limits of my knowledge as a barrier, I saw them as a reason to keep learning and look beyond the boundaries of my own discipline. This fall, I will begin the Master of Science in Sustainability Science at Columbia University. I am not pursuing this degree to move away from architecture. I want to enrich my understanding of architecture and sustainable design by developing a deeper knowledge of the environmental systems that influence the way we design and build. I hope this experience will broaden the perspective I bring to future projects and help me make more informed decisions throughout my career. I see sustainable design as something that requires continued curiosity. There is always more to understand about the relationship between what we build and the world around it. Through Sustainability Science, I want to explore how sustainability can be inherently integrated into the design process rather than treated as a separate consideration. My goal is to carry that knowledge back into architecture and continue exploring how the built environment can exist in a more harmonious and mutually enriching relationship with the natural world. As a woman pursuing this path, I value the opportunity to contribute my own developing knowledge while learning from people whose expertise differs from mine. I believe progress depends on people who remain curious and use their education with a sense of responsibility. My goal is to continue growing at the intersection of architecture and Sustainability Science, using both to pursue sustainable design and contribute to a built environment that is more responsive to the world around it.

I have always understood architecture as something that extends beyond the walls of a building. What we design eventually becomes part of someone's everyday life, which is why I want to be intentional about the buildings I help bring into the world. As I continue my education in sustainability science, I am learning how to bring a broader environmental perspective into the architectural process and, ultimately, into the way buildings are constructed. My foundation in architecture has taught me that design decisions have real consequences. A drawing becomes a structure, and that structure becomes part of a community. Through my architectural education, I became increasingly interested in how the built environment affects human health and the conditions in which people live. Coursework in environmental inequality and environmental justice helped me recognize that the way we build can contribute to environmental challenges, particularly in communities that have historically carried a greater share of those burdens. I am now pursuing a Master of Science in Sustainability Science at Columbia University to expand the way I approach architecture. My graduate education is helping me understand the environmental systems behind the places we build and giving me the ability to think more critically about sustainability throughout the architectural process. I do not want sustainability to be something considered after a design is complete. I want it to influence how I approach a project from its earliest stages and continue through construction and beyond. As I work toward becoming a licensed architect, I hope to contribute to a construction industry that is more thoughtful about its environmental impact. I want to design buildings that use resources responsibly while creating spaces that support the people who occupy them. I am particularly interested in how sustainable construction can improve the quality of life in communities that have experienced environmental inequities. I also want to remain connected to the people affected by the buildings I help design. Architecture can sometimes become focused on the finished product, but I believe the success of a building should also be measured by how it serves the people who use it. I want to collaborate with others in the construction process while keeping that perspective at the center of my work. This scholarship would help me continue building the knowledge I need to turn these goals into a career. Graduate study is allowing me to connect my architectural background with a deeper understanding of sustainability, and financial support would make it possible for me to focus more fully on that development. The opportunity to strengthen this foundation will prepare me to enter the profession with a perspective that I hope will influence the projects I contribute to throughout my career. I want to help create a future where the construction of a building considers what happens long after the project is completed. The spaces we create shape people's daily experiences and leave an environmental footprint that can last for generations. I hope to become an architect who takes that responsibility seriously and uses my education to help build places that are healthier for people and better prepared for the future.

I believe selflessness begins with understanding that what I know and what I am capable of doing should not exist solely for my own benefit. Architecture has taught me this most clearly. Through my education, I have come to understand that each person develops a unique facet of knowledge shaped by their experiences, education, and perspective. I believe that knowledge creates a responsibility to use it thoughtfully. To me, selflessness means recognizing that responsibility and having the agency to act on it. My commitment to service began long before I understood it in those terms. At Howard University, I became involved with Circle K International and participated in efforts that responded to needs within the community. I helped organize a hygiene bag assembly for women experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C., where volunteers prepared essential care packages and included encouraging messages. I also participated in food and school supply drives and helped organize an environmental cleanup at Banneker Park. These experiences reminded me that service often begins with something simple: recognizing that someone needs support and deciding to contribute what you can. My involvement with Circle K also taught me that responsibility extends beyond the moments when service is most visible. As Treasurer and Social Media Coordinator, I managed financial records, prepared funding proposals, and helped promote opportunities for students to participate. The work required consistency because the decisions I made affected our organization’s ability to serve others. I learned to take those responsibilities seriously, understanding that even work happening behind the scenes can have an impact beyond myself. Through my sorority, I had another opportunity to connect my knowledge of architecture with service. I served as an Event Co-Chair for a program examining architecture, housing equity, and community development in Washington, D.C. My architectural education had already taught me to look closely at the built environment, but this experience challenged me to consider who benefits from the way communities are designed and who may be left with fewer choices. It reinforced my belief that having specialized knowledge comes with an obligation to use it responsibly. That belief has shaped the direction of my education. My interest in sustainability science comes from recognizing that many of the challenges affecting communities cannot be addressed through design alone. I want to understand the environmental systems behind the decisions I make as an architect so that I can act with greater knowledge and agency. I do not want to simply recognize that a problem exists. I want to develop the ability to participate meaningfully in addressing it. For me, selflessness is not about sacrificing my ambitions. It is about understanding what my ambitions are for. I want to become highly knowledgeable in my field, but I also want that knowledge to have a purpose beyond my own advancement. If I have the ability to understand something that can improve another person’s circumstances, I believe I have a responsibility to use that understanding. That is the kind of person I hope to remain throughout my career: someone who recognizes the value of what she knows, remains humble enough to keep learning, and has the agency to put that knowledge into service of others.

I love math because it makes imagination buildable. Architecture taught me that some of the most exciting ideas begin as things that do not yet exist. A design can start as an abstract idea on a page, challenging the way we understand space. Math allows that idea to become possible. It gives me a way to understand something abstract without taking away the freedom to imagine what it could become. I first encountered calculus in high school, but I began to understand its value when I studied architecture. As I learned to design, I spent hours working with geometry and studying how different elements relate to one another. I started seeing mathematics differently. It was no longer something that existed only in a classroom. It was embedded in the spaces I was creating. That realization gave me more freedom as a designer. When I encountered an unfamiliar form, I did not have to see its complexity as a limitation. I could begin to understand the relationships that made it possible. Mathematics gave me a foundation for exploring ideas that might have otherwise felt impossible to design. Something that began as an abstract concept could eventually become a building that people could experience. That is what I love most about math. It gives structure to imagination without defining its limits. There are rules, but within those rules are endless possibilities. The more I understand those relationships, the more possibilities I can see. Architecture showed me that creativity and mathematics work together. My design ideas become stronger when I understand the logic behind them. Math does not make architecture less creative. It gives creativity somewhere to go. As I prepare to begin my Master of Science in Sustainability Science, I am carrying that perspective with me. Sustainability involves systems that are constantly changing. Mathematical thinking allows us to recognize patterns and understand how one change can affect something much larger. I hope to use that perspective to approach environmental challenges while remaining grounded in the communities they affect. I love math because it expands what I believe I can create. Architecture gave me a reason to see mathematics beyond equations and calculations. It showed me that math can take an idea that exists only in my imagination and give it the structure to exist in the real world. To me, that is freedom.

The impact I want to make is rooted in my belief that the environments we create have a responsibility to support the health and well-being of the people who inhabit them. I want to become a licensed architect with a deep focus on sustainability and use my education to create healthier, more resilient communities. For me, architecture is an opportunity to serve. My understanding of service was shaped early in my life. When I was nine years old, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. While I was too young to understand the complexities of her experience, I understood that life could change unexpectedly and that people need community during difficult moments. That experience shaped my sense of responsibility and strengthened my belief that we have an obligation to show up for others. As I have grown, I have come to understand that service can take many forms, including using the knowledge and skills we develop to improve the conditions in which people live. At Howard University, I began connecting this understanding of service to architecture. Through Circle K International, I participated in food and school supply drives, assembled hygiene bags for women experiencing homelessness, and contributed to environmental cleanups. Through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, I helped develop a program examining architecture, housing equity, and community development in Washington, D.C. These experiences taught me that meaningful service requires both compassion and action. My architectural education introduced me to environmental justice and expanded my understanding of how the built environment affects human health. Through coursework in environmental inequality and environmental justice, I learned how environmental burdens disproportionately affect Black and marginalized communities. Pollution, contaminated sites, transportation corridors, and other hazards can shape the health and quality of life of communities for generations. I began to understand that decisions about buildings and development are ultimately decisions about people's lives. My thesis research on vertical farming and food justice further demonstrated how architecture can respond to environmental and community needs. I became interested in how design can improve food access, strengthen resilience, and create healthier urban environments. This work led me to pursue my Master of Science in Sustainability Science at Columbia University, where I am developing the scientific and systems-based knowledge necessary to make more informed decisions as an architect. Professionally, I hope to contribute to buildings and developments that advance environmental quality and human health through healthier materials, energy-conscious design, resilient systems, and responsible construction. I want to work at the intersection of architecture, sustainability, and development while remaining attentive to the communities affected by those decisions. My goal is not simply to make buildings sustainable on paper, but to understand how sustainability can translate into healthier everyday experiences. I also hope to use my education as a resource for others. As an African American woman entering architecture and sustainability, I understand the importance of representation and mentorship. I want to encourage young people to see themselves in these fields and make pathways into architecture and sustainability more visible. Ultimately, I want my career to reflect the belief that knowledge creates responsibility. When we understand how our decisions affect people and the environment, we have an obligation to act thoughtfully. Through architecture, sustainability science, and a lifelong commitment to service, I hope to create healthier places and contribute to communities that can thrive for generations.

My goal is to become a licensed architect with a deep focus on sustainable design while building the experience, knowledge, and financial flexibility to eventually pursue opportunities in real estate and development. I have established a strong foundation by earning a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Design Studies and a Master of Architecture through Howard University's NAAB-accredited 4+1 program. This fall, I will continue my education at Columbia University, where I will pursue a Master of Science in Sustainability Science. The program is 36 credits, and I plan to complete it full time by taking 12 credits over three semesters. Because my classes will be held in the evenings, I plan to work at an architecture firm during the day. This will allow me to gain practical experience while completing my degree. A major priority will be documenting my work toward the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), including experience in its six categories: Practice Management, Project Management, Programming & Analysis, Project Planning & Design, Project Development & Documentation, and Construction & Evaluation. I plan to be intentional about my responsibilities so I can gain well-rounded experience and steadily prepare for architectural licensure. I also plan to use my professional experience to make thoughtful decisions about my education. Rather than viewing my architecture career and sustainability degree as separate paths, I want them to strengthen one another. I will carefully review Columbia's cross-reference list of courses to identify classes that can count toward my degree while being more closely aligned with architecture and the built environment. I am particularly interested in sustainable buildings, urban systems, resilience, energy, and development. My work at an architecture firm will help me identify gaps in my knowledge and guide me toward classes with the greatest practical value. Financial planning is another important part of my strategy. My Fall 2026 account statement lists $34,200 in tuition for this semester, before other university fees and financial aid are applied. For this semester, I earned a $10,000 Merit Base-Financial Aid Award and a $10,000 SP Deans Scholarship, totaling $20,000 in scholarship support. The statement also lists an anticipated $10,142 Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. While this support has significantly reduced my immediate financial burden, I do not yet know what financial aid or scholarships will be available for my next two semesters. Combined with the high cost of living in New York City, completing this degree represents a significant investment. I plan to continue working while in school and budgeting carefully, and I would greatly appreciate any additional financial assistance available along the way. Minimizing debt is especially important because my long-term goal includes entering real estate and development. I want to preserve the flexibility to eventually invest in projects or pursue entrepreneurial opportunities rather than carrying excessive debt when I may need startup capital. Overall, my plan is to strategically complete my Sustainability Science degree, gain and document AXP experience, prepare for licensure, and develop specialized knowledge in sustainable design. By combining my architectural education, professional experience, sustainability studies, and careful financial planning, I hope to build a career at the intersection of architecture, sustainability, real estate, and development. Embarking on this journey is a leap of faith I am excited to take.

My “awkward” thing is that I was a grammar critic before I was old enough to understand the power of my own words. As a child, I had an unusually strong understanding of English grammar. I found patterns in language that most people my age had not yet noticed, and I could not help but point them out. I would correct adults when they phrased things incorrectly, which was often met with laughter and surprise. There was something amusing about a small child confidently explaining grammar rules to people much older than me. At the time, I thought I was simply helping. If something was incorrect, I believed the best thing to do was fix it. I loved the clarity and structure of language, and that attention to detail stayed with me as I grew older. It eventually helped me earn a 32 on the English section of the ACT and strengthened my appreciation for the importance of communication. However, I learned that communication is about much more than correctness. As I matured, I began to understand that constantly correcting people could unintentionally make them feel judged or hesitant to express themselves, even within my own family. I had to learn that sometimes the most important part of a conversation is not identifying what is wrong, but understanding the person speaking. That realization became one of my earliest lessons in empathy. I learned that every person communicates from a different place shaped by their experiences, challenges, and perspectives. If I wanted to build meaningful relationships, I needed to make people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts rather than worrying about whether every word they used was perfect. That lesson changed how I approach others. I became more intentional about listening before responding and understanding before evaluating. I began to see that my attention to detail was not just a tool for finding mistakes. It was also a tool for noticing needs, recognizing different perspectives, and helping people feel valued. This shift has shaped how I approach my education, my collaborations, and my goals for the future. Whether I am working with classmates, designing solutions for communities, or engaging with people whose experiences differ from my own, I strive to use my curiosity and attention to detail to build rather than criticize. I believe meaningful change begins when people feel heard and respected. My awkward childhood habit taught me that words have power. They can correct, but they can also connect. They can create distance, or they can create understanding. As we work toward creating a safer and more compassionate world, listening is one of the most important things we can do. Communities become stronger when people trust that their voices matter.

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Architecture taught me that meaningful design exists at the intersection of creativity, science, and systems thinking. A building is never simply a structure. It is a dynamic relationship between form, material, environment, and human experience. Throughout my architectural education, calculus became one of the tools that allowed me to better understand these relationships and expand the possibilities of what could be designed. This is why I believe calculus is an essential foundation in STEM. My first exposure to calculus began in high school and continued during my freshman year of college, where it became especially valuable in my architectural studies. During my early design education, when much of my work involved manual drafting, calculus gave me a deeper understanding of geometry, proportion, and spatial relationships. It allowed me to approach abstract forms with greater confidence because I could better understand the mathematical principles behind curves, surfaces, and complex shapes. Rather than limiting creativity, calculus gave me greater freedom to explore new forms and translate ideas into designs that were both imaginative and achievable. Beyond architecture, calculus provides STEM fields with a framework for understanding change, relationships, and complex systems. At its core, calculus allows us to analyze how variables interact and evolve over time. This ability is essential because many of the challenges addressed through STEM, from engineering and physics to environmental science, are not static. They require professionals to understand patterns, predict outcomes, and develop solutions that respond to changing conditions. As I prepare to begin my Master of Science in Sustainability Science, I am increasingly aware of how important this way of thinking will be. Sustainability challenges exist within interconnected systems where environmental, social, and physical factors continuously influence one another. Climate patterns shift, ecosystems adapt, resources fluctuate, and human decisions create impacts across multiple scales. Addressing these challenges requires the ability to model relationships, analyze trends, and understand how changes within one part of a system can affect the whole. For example, sustainability scientists use mathematical models to study climate patterns, ecosystem dynamics, resource availability, and environmental risks. Calculus provides the foundation for understanding rates of change and interactions within these systems, helping researchers evaluate potential solutions and make informed decisions. Similar to how an architect considers how a building will perform over time, sustainability professionals must consider how environmental systems will respond to interventions over time. Beyond its technical applications, calculus teaches a mindset that is fundamental to STEM. It encourages curiosity, precision, and the ability to approach complex problems by identifying relationships and patterns. These skills are especially important as scientific and environmental challenges become increasingly interconnected. Ultimately, calculus is important in STEM because it transforms observations into understanding and understanding into action. My experience in architecture has shown me that creativity and analytical thinking are not separate. They strengthen one another. As I continue my education in sustainability science, I hope to build upon this foundation by using both creative and mathematical approaches to develop solutions that support resilient communities and a healthier planet.

Every building we create is a statement about how we choose to exist within the natural world, and the most urgent challenge in wildlife conservation is ensuring that human development does not come at the expense of the ecosystems we depend on. As our cities continue to expand, the question is no longer whether humans and wildlife will share space. It is whether we will design that shared space responsibly. My interest in this issue comes from an uncommon intersection of disciplines. Studying architecture taught me how profoundly the built environment shapes the way people live, move, and interact with one another. Yet the deeper I studied, the more I found myself asking questions that extended beyond buildings. I began to wonder how the spaces we design reshape ecosystems, alter wildlife behavior, fragment habitats, and influence the delicate balance between human development and the natural world. Those questions ultimately led me to pursue a Master of Science in Sustainability Science, not because I was leaving architecture behind, but because I wanted to understand the larger systems within which architecture exists. That realization changed the way I think about conservation. Buildings are essential to human life, but they also represent one of our greatest interventions in nature. Every new development has the potential to affect the species that once occupied that land. Too often, wildlife is considered only after construction is complete, when coexistence should instead be a guiding principle from the very beginning of the design process. The encouraging reality is that our built environment can become part of the solution. Bird-safe glass and facade treatments can reduce millions of bird collisions each year. Green roofs and native landscapes can create habitat for pollinators and urban wildlife. Wildlife crossings reconnect habitats divided by roads and development. Sustainable stormwater systems protect streams and aquatic ecosystems, while responsible lighting strategies reduce disruption to nocturnal species. These may seem like individual design choices, but together they demonstrate how thoughtful planning can transform our relationship with the natural world. What makes human-wildlife coexistence especially urgent is that ecological systems are interconnected. When habitats are fragmented or species decline, the effects extend far beyond wildlife alone. They ripple through food webs, biodiversity, water quality, climate resilience, and ultimately the health of our own communities. The well-being of people and the well-being of nature are inseparable. As I begin my graduate studies in sustainability science, I hope to bridge the gap between architecture and ecological stewardship. My goal is to help shape buildings and communities that not only minimize environmental harm but actively support biodiversity and resilience. To me, the future of conservation is not about choosing between human progress and the natural world. It is about designing a future where both can thrive together. That is the kind of coexistence I hope to spend my career advancing.

My academic path has been shaped by a growing curiosity about how the environments we create influence the way people live. Studying architecture first introduced me to this relationship. Through studio work, research, and collaboration, I learned to see the built environment not simply as physical structures, but as part of a larger system shaped by environmental conditions, infrastructure, and human behavior. The more I studied design, the more I found myself asking questions about the forces operating beyond the walls of a building. Those questions gradually led me toward sustainability science. I became increasingly interested in understanding the environmental processes that influence the spaces we design and the long-term performance of the systems that support them. Rather than viewing architecture as an isolated discipline, I began to see it as one component within a broader network of environmental and social systems. This perspective encouraged me to look deeper into how resource use, ecological change, and infrastructure decisions shape the resilience of communities over time. My thesis research allowed me to explore these ideas more closely. Through studying urban agriculture and community-centered infrastructure, I examined how design interventions can support both environmental performance and human well-being. This process strengthened my understanding that meaningful solutions require more than creativity alone. They require careful analysis, curiosity, and a willingness to investigate the underlying systems that influence the success or failure of an intervention. Collaboration and mentorship have also played an important role in shaping who I am. Architecture studio culture requires students to constantly share ideas, critique one another’s work, and refine solutions collectively. Through these experiences, I developed an appreciation for dialogue and intellectual exchange. I value environments where people feel comfortable asking difficult questions and exploring new perspectives, because thoughtful solutions rarely emerge without curiosity and open discussion. Pursuing a degree in Sustainability Science will allow me to deepen the analytical foundation behind my work. I want to strengthen my ability to interpret environmental data, evaluate long-term impacts, and understand how complex systems interact over time. These tools will help me approach design and planning decisions with greater clarity and responsibility. Rather than separating design from environmental analysis, I hope to integrate the two so that sustainability considerations become embedded in how projects are conceived from the beginning. In my future career, I hope to work at the intersection of the built environment and environmental systems. I want to contribute to projects that improve the spaces where people live while responding thoughtfully to ecological realities. My goal is to approach each project with a mindset grounded in inquiry, collaboration, and long-term thinking. Education has given me the opportunity to ask better questions about the systems shaping our world. By continuing my studies in sustainability science, I hope to turn those questions into informed action and contribute to solutions that create lasting positive impact.

In the life of my dreams, I am living each day in alignment with my highest purpose, designing spaces that do more than provide shelter; they heal, empower, and inspire. Architecture, to me, is a catalyst for transformation. It is a discipline that shapes experiences, nurtures resilience, and creates opportunities for equity. Every project I lead addresses housing insecurity, environmental challenges, and social inequities through innovative, sustainable, and culturally responsive design. I work at the intersection of design, justice, and community impact. Each space I create is grounded in a deep respect for its context and the people it serves. My buildings integrate sustainable technologies, celebrate local culture, and foster connection between individuals and their environment. The work is not only functional but also aspirational, offering places where people feel safe, valued, and inspired to thrive. My role extends beyond the drawing board. I collaborate with community leaders, policymakers, engineers, and artists to ensure that every project reflects a holistic vision for the future. I lead initiatives that transform vacant lots into vibrant public spaces, reimagine underutilized buildings as community hubs, and design housing that is affordable, dignified, and environmentally responsible. These projects are living examples of what it means to design with both creativity and conscience. Mentorship is an essential part of my vision. I actively guide emerging designers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, so they have the knowledge, tools, and confidence to shape the profession in their own right. In this way, my work creates a ripple effect, empowering others to lead, innovate, and push the boundaries of what architecture can accomplish. In this life, success is measured not only by the quality of the spaces I create but by the quality of life they foster. It is reflected in families finding stability in well-designed homes, in neighborhoods revitalized through thoughtful planning, and in public spaces that bring people together. It is evident in sustainable solutions that reduce environmental impact while improving daily life for generations to come. Every day is guided by a commitment to excellence, integrity, and purpose. I wake up knowing that the work I do contributes to a larger legacy, one that values human potential, honors the planet, and challenges the status quo. The spaces I design are not just physical structures; they are platforms for connection, opportunity, and hope. Ultimately, my dream life is defined by impact. Through architecture, I build more than walls and roofs; I build pathways to possibility. I create environments where people can envision brighter futures, where communities feel empowered, and where design becomes a force for justice, beauty, and lasting change.