“What’s past is prologue.” William Shakespeare’s words from The Tempest reflect how I understand growth. Where a person begins does not determine where they will end up. Commitment and effort do. This belief is also why I am pursuing architecture. Architecture allows ideas to become real, and I am motivated by the challenge of creating spaces that are thoughtful and meaningful. Despite having “Art” in my name, I did not grow up with strong artistic ability. I had no formal art classes, little confidence in visual expression, and no natural talent in design. What I did have was curiosity and persistence. In eighth grade, I spent many afternoons gaming without a clear sense of direction until I discovered a platformer game on Roblox built from community-created environments. Every structure in the game existed because someone chose to create it. That idea inspired me to begin designing my own builds, even without any training. I learned by observing others, studying my mistakes, and improving through repetition. Over time, my work was accepted by curators among hundreds of submissions. That experience taught me that consistent growth can outweigh raw talent, and confidence is built through effort. Music became another important part of my development. I have been participating in band since sixth grade as a euphonium player because of my siblings’ influence. While I did not immediately succeed through auditions, I chose not to lose interest. Instead, I redirected my efforts toward composing and arranging music. During my sophomore year, I arranged a stand tune titled Stop, Drop, Roll, which was later performed by the entire band at football games. Hearing my own work performed by others was a defining moment. It helped me earn a section leader role and strengthened my ability to problem solve, collaborate, and design with intention. These are skills that directly align with architectural practice. From gamer to creator and player to arranger, these experiences were prologue to realizing that architecture was the right path for me when I entered a four-year Career and Technical Education architecture program as a freshman. For the first time, I found a field that required both creativity and sustained effort. Balancing architecture projects with advanced coursework and band was overwhelming, but it felt meaningful. Long nights designing floor plans, revising and receiving critiques back-to-back, and presenting increased my determination. My projects stood out for their creativity, precision, and leadership in group settings. My work has been recognized by instructors and professional architects associated with the American Institute of Architects, and a few of my projects have been used as examples for other students. Those moments confirmed that architecture was the path I wanted to pursue. I am pursuing architecture because I am passionate about turning ideas into spaces that serve people. Ambition constantly motivates me to push my potential, discipline keeps me focused, and passion drives my effort to improve. I have learned that success is not defined by where you begin, but by how willing you are to grow. Before, my name felt like a contradiction. Now, it represents the effort behind it.