I have always loved landscape architecture. Not in the way that I was five years old telling people that I wanted to grow up to be a landscape architect, I didn’t even know what that was. I also didn’t know that the many outdoor spaces I spent time in in my youth, the Reid Park duck pond, my grade school’s playground, and my grandparent’s backyard, were intentionally designed to be pleasant to be in. Needless to say, one does not have to get a degree in landscape architecture to be able to design an outdoor space. My grandmother, for instance, bought and laid down her own stone path in her garden, planted her own weeping willow tree, and cared for and raised her own flower garden, which was a lovely place to spend time in as a young child. However, having a degree certainly does help, especially in beggar projects. In the case of my grade school, which I recently visited a few months back for my best friend’s kid brother’s promotion ceremony. When I was there, I ran into my old head of school and began discussing my major with her, Sustainable Built Environments, which encompasses landscape architecture. She informed me that the various outdoor spaces at the school were designed by a landscape architect they were friends with and hired for the projects. I began to notice just how meticulously designed the school I spent ten years at was. The gray stone-lined paths connecting the buildings, the mesquite trees planted in ideal places for shade, and under them small benches placed for students to sit and talk, the milkweed planted along the fence to bring us beautiful monarch butterflies, and so much more. I felt overwhelmed with appreciation for the adults who cared about us students and wanted us to have a nice outdoor space to spend time in. I know it made a huge difference for us, even if I didn’t appreciate it fully at the time – hard to love it until you lose it I guess. But the events of that day greatly assured me of my passion for designing environments. I would be honored to create a beautiful outdoor environment for others, like the one I was lucky enough to have in my youth.  Obviously, I love and appreciate nature-nature, undesigned nature, uncontrolled nature. However, within our more urban spaces, it is so important to have beautifully designed landscapes. I don’t think that urban spaces have to be confined to roads, concrete, and buildings. Yes, these are components… but a place with only those components sounds rather unpleasant! Where are the trees? Flowers? Benches to lounge on? Paths to walk with your family? This is where landscaping comes in.  Regarding mental health, I have long struggled with the symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression. Again, this is where (funnily enough) landscaping comes in. I don’t own a car, so if I want to get out into the wilderness, it is rather hard for me to do so. I rely on urban outdoor spaces to help me ground myself, slow down, and freshen my perspective. Having well-designed landscapes within the city is not a luxury, but a necessity. Although my major does not exclusively focus on landscaping, it is a major component, and one that I care about passionately. This scholarship would help me to continue my education in Sustainable Built Environments, and go on to do what I love: creating beautiful spaces.

Growing up in the Sonoran Desert, I understood from a young age that our resources here were limited. Of course, all of Earth has a finite amount of resources – but it is much clearer to see in the desert. Some quotes when hiking with my father as a child: “We need to fill up water now, because we may not see any for 4 or 5 miles… dip our hats and bandanas in too… we need to walk slowly in the shade and fast in the sun.” Some may call the desert harsh, and uninviting, due to its lack of resources. And true, it can feel that way. However, at the same time, that is one of the reasons why I love it so much. It makes one aware that what little they have is so precious, and if you are smart, it is enough. In a world full of mass over-production and consumption, the desert is a blatant opposition to all of that. In my daily life, I mostly try to be thankful for all that I have, and act accordingly. I appreciate my unlimited access to temperature-controlled running water: so I turn off the shower when I shave, and try always to finish my glasses once I pour them. I appreciate my inexhaustible access to the electricity that powers my lamps, stove, and electric toothbrush: so I turn off lights when not in the room and unplug chargers when not in use. I appreciate my belongings: so I respect them by taking good care of them and protecting their (and my) space by not cluttering my apartment with useless items. I appreciate the neighborhood I live in, so I make myself explore it on foot versus driving (mostly I can’t afford a car, but that’s alright with me for now.) Of course, there is value in focusing on single issues within the environment. Causes like preserving our clean air, limiting plastic usage, etc. However, all of this is useless without understanding the deeper, root issue, which is our society’s drive to consume more, more and more, endlessly, in our constant struggle for man to rule over nature. And no, one cannot tackle these huge issues in a day, even within a lifetime. But a person does have control over themself. I have had to come to terms with my drive to constantly consume more than what I need… after all, I am society’s child. But the sooner one addresses these issues within oneself, the sooner they can heal, and help others heal. This issue is not man versus nature, it is man versus man. The reason I believe “reducing your carbon footprint” is so important is because it is entirely in your best interest, others' best interest (your fellow men), Earth’s best interest (yes, this is where we live), and the other life on Earth (essentially our roommates.) Many individuals understand the impending doom that climate change brings, which can and often does lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression. I know I have felt it myself. It can be easy to just yell at people who don’t care, to comment nasty things online, to hate oneself for consuming. But this is not sustainable, as in its literal definition: able to be maintained at a certain rate or level. This is why I have had to shift my mindset to one of appreciation and curiosity. Yes, I do still get angry (there are many things to be angry about,) but I let my anger drive me to research, and then to action.