In the early 2000s, I grew up alongside the smartphone revolution. While my family lived at a low-income level, technology was the access I saw the world through. As one of seven people in a crowded, busy household in a small Texas coastal town, I was able to learn early on that space and resources are precious. I was able to view global issues I saw on social media, which were deforestation, pollution, and habitat destruction. That is when I started looking up content about people who want to help the environment. This ultimately led me to pursue a major in Geography and Environmental Sustainability as I wanted to understand how and what we as a society can do to make the environment thrive. My interest in this field is driven by the striking differences between my small hometown and the exploding growth of the Texas Triangle. As Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio rapidly expand toward one another, I see a region on the edge of becoming an interconnected megacity. My career goal is to become an Urban Planner to ensure this merge doesn't become an environmental decay, but a sustainable environment where humanity and nature thrive together. I find my inspiration and also my interest from the film Zootopia. I was captivated by its environmental design around the city. The idea of a city built with diverse, interconnected climate parts that allow different populations to coexist within a thriving, walkable, delightful urban city, sounded and looked so marvelous to me. I believe the merging cities of Texas can be a version of this, a city for biodiversity, green energy, and inclusive spaces. I have also been further shaped by my love for community service. For example, when I volunteered for an elementary Christmas event, I was able to see families become joyous, and seeing smiles everywhere. Since volunteering at local community events, I have seen how needed public spaces are for bringing people together. I want to work with city planners to design environments that aren't centers of destruction, but hubs that promote positive outcomes for both people and the local wildlife I grew up seeing on the coast. I want to build spaces that have the same sense of uniting everyone that I saw in Zootopia and experienced in my own community. My path is fueled by the collective strength of my family. My mother works three part time jobs and my father works 12-hour shifts, and because everyone in our home contributes, I have developed a work ethic. Although my parents are hesitant about the path of higher education required for a Master’s in Urban Planning, my mind is set. I am pushed by a desire to turn the bad realities of environmental neglect into a sustainable future. By earning this degree, I intend to combine my background in community service with spatial awareness to design cities where everyone can thrive.

In the early 2000's, I grew alongside the smartphone revolution. While my family lived at a low-income level, technology was the access I saw the world through. I was able to view global issues which were deforestation, pollution, and habitat destruction. That is when I started looking up content about people who want to help the environment. This ultimately led me to pursue a major in Geography and Environmental Sustainability as I wanted to understand how and what we as a society can do to make the environment thrive. My interest in this field is driven by the striking differences between my small hometown and the exploding growth of the Texas Triangle. As Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio rapidly expand toward one another, I see a region on the edge of becoming an interconnected megacity. My career goal is to become an Urban Planner to ensure this merge doesn't become an issue, but a sustainable environment where both sides thrive together. I find my inspiration and also my interest from the film Zootopia. I was captivated by its environmental design around the city. A city utilizing diverse, interconnected climate parts to support coexistence of populations in a thriving, sustainable urban environment seems absolutely marvelous to me. I believe the merging cities of Texas can be a version of this, a city for biodiversity, and green energy. My path is fueled by the strength of my family. My mother works three part time jobs and my father works 12-hour shifts, and because everyone in our home contributes, I have developed a work ethic. I am pushed by a desire to turn the bad realities of environmental neglect into a sustainable future. By earning this degree, I intend to combine my background with spatial awareness to design cities where everyone can thrive.