What color is this? You ask me again, The shades blur and twist; they blend, and they bend. In a world so bright, painted in hues, I walk a road where colors confuse. My sister would laugh, bring red or green, To watch me stumble on shades unseen. But I shake it off, like Taylor would sing, I find my way through the colorless ring. No disability label, yet it's a fight, Turning shadows to colors, making gray feel bright. It's like "Blank Space" when they look at me, Can't they see I'm not who I used to be? Reading plans, adjusting hues— Building dreams that break the blues. In construction, the colors are cold, I build with lines, my dreams unfold. So I shake it off, just like Taylor says, Life may be muted, but I paint anyway. No red or green to call my own, But I shape the world in grays and stone. Welcome to my world, where colors hide, Where blues blend with the reds inside. I'm chasing my dreams, and though I may trip, I'll color my life without a slip. "Style" in my stride, like 1989, Building my future, making it mine. I shake it off, in Taylor's style, Facing colors that run, still I smile. In every shade, my vision grows, I'm writing my life in monochrome prose. This year's been a song, a 1989 spin, With every beat, I find strength within. Colorblind and unbound, in hues undefined, I'm seeing the world through Taylor's lines. In the style of Taylor Swift's 1989, this poem is a colorblind life. This opens with the striking question, "What color is this?" like a mirror of uncertainty, subtle challenges most experience in a world full of colors. The poet recalls how, as a child, colors like red and green were all blurry; such moments, though usually followed by playful laughter, marked the start of living with color blindness. Like Swift's "Shake It Off" does, this poem's refrain is about resilience. Though colorblindness may be a personal battle, the narrator disowns the word "disability" and owns up instead to having an alternative way to envision the world, turning "shadows to colors," making gray beautiful. Using architectural lines of imagery and construction as metaphors, the poet likens it to building one's path with strength amidst the greying shades of color. It then gets fortes into this mighty saga of independence that screams 1989's "Blank Space" and "Style," where it's all about how she has taken this black-and-white world and turned it into color. The poem concludes on a high note where ambitions and personal struggles go together- colorblind and free. This is a legitimate inspiration for Taylor Swift's album, both in terms of style and content: a song representing growth, self-devolvement, and making a difference - in one's way.

As a first-generation international student from Nepal, I have aspired to pursue an education after witnessing changes that can be made in my field and my community. Thus, I applied for the Construction Management program at Collin College. Growing up in one of the poorest countries worldwide, where sustainable infrastructure is urgently needed yet completely unaffordable, I have seen far too many families live without safe or environmentally conscious housing options. This further drives me to focus my studies on developing affordable, eco-friendly construction solutions that can be scaled up and adapted according to the needs of under-resourced communities, locally and globally. Through education, I am garnering the expertise to realize this vision. My classes have included practical training in construction visualization software, such as Revit, and cost estimation software, like PlanSwift, essential in making cost-effective and sustainable housing model designs. I am also learning project management on Buildertrend, Drone Deploy, and Bluebeam Revu for effective process organization, resource management, and timely completion of projects. These skills will enable me to succeed in the field and empower me to lead efforts and initiatives that make housing more accessible and affordable for the majority of the Nepalese community, reducing financial and environmental burdens. One of my high priorities is serving as a bridge for communities and sustainable infrastructure through home designs that are as affordable as they are environmentally sound. I was fortunate enough to participate in different community projects in my home country, including constructing a crematorium and leading the team for a trike that uses electrical, solar, and hydrogen fuel cells. These, however, have developed my love for community service and innovation and thus have committed me to change over these years in whatever particular respect through professional work. As I approach further studies, I envision using green technologies and sustainable materials to design buildings that will meet the environmental and economic needs of low-income families in Texas and the rest of the world. This scholarship would be priceless to me in making this dream a reality. As an international student working part-time, balancing my education with financial responsibilities is hard. My resources are stretched to cover studies, living expenses, and some essential school supplies, but high tuition still needs to be improved. The scholarship would ease my burden and give me time and concentration for my studies and professional growth. It makes it easier for me to participate in all projects and internships I need for employment, as it will help me build skills in reality and, in a way, unconstrained by financial constraints. Later in life, I would like to give something back to the Construction Management industry by spearheading innovative, environmentally friendly building solutions that address issues of inclusivity and accessibility. All communities have the right to thrive in safe and sustainable spaces. This scholarship would bring me one step closer to realizing that dream. I'm not asking you to support my graduate education; more so, you're helping me lay the foundation for a career trying to uplift undervalued communities toward creating a much better, sustainable, and equable future.

What color is this? For most people, it's a simple question. But for me, it's just an often guess-and-check kind of world, shaded in hues I can't completely trust. My earliest memories include my sister testing me playfully with colored objects, holding up two different things, and asking me which color I liked more. I would be at a loss to decide whether I am choosing the right color, sometimes even confusing red for green. These little moments were part of a more significant challenge that hankered me into life: the need to find my way in a world designed by and for those who could see color easily. Color blindness may not be classified or widely regarded as a "disability." However, it is something that has crippled me during specific sensitive periods and has influenced my attitude and thoughts toward being fair, open, and robust. Color blindness, as I grew up, consisted of adaptations that often went unnoticed by others: mundane things such as matching up clothes to wear, reading maps, and attempting to interpret data visualizations- all of these required additional attention and creative fixes. I learned to take patterns, textures, and shapes as my guide; I developed an attention to detail that does not disappoint me. Although this is a personal and internally challenging condition, it speaks to many other areas of my life, even influencing my career ambitions. Color blindness taught me over time that slight modifications to design often make a complete difference. Also, the educational materials should have appropriate contrast, and the safety signs should use universally understandable symbols. All those small things are mighty if done according to accessible design. I try to comprehend it more by studying construction management to build sustainable and inclusive spaces for everyone. Through my designs, I will be able to visualize communities, including everyone, so that no person feels excluded or left behind because of a difference that may seem small but has genuine implications in daily life. Coming to the United States for studies, my vocation came in the form of sustainable construction. My concentration is affordable housing; I dream of building eco-friendly homes for underprivileged communities. I firmly believe that everyone deserves a safe and accessible place to reside, no matter their background or abilities. My dream is to completely change traditional construction, prioritizing the accessibility of physical layouts and all the sensory experiences that make a space friendly. Contribute to developing a future wherein inclusivity will organically be sewn into the threads of design from city planning to personal residences. It is worth more than any money to help me reach that future. At present, I am at Collin College in school and working part-time. There are times when financial constraints slow my progress toward achieving my goals. This scholarship will provide me with the security I need to devote to my goals without distractions, enabling me to spend time studying, community service, and professional development. Colorblindness has taught me that our vantage points and struggles can fuel positive change. Using what I have learned from my own experiences, I do all I can to help build a world in which accessible design is the norm- where everyone feels free, included, and valued. This scholarship would lighten my financial load and further the realization of that dream.