Growing up in a house that was built with a focus on energy and water conservation may have indirectly influenced my fascination with design; I love how the intentional creation of spaces, objects, and communities can impact the well-being of users and the wider human environment. Another point of influence may have been growing up in beautiful Northern Minnesota, where the natural environment is a major social and cultural focus and a resource to be protected. Summers spent on the shores of Lake Superior and kayaking down the rivers of the North Shore have given me an appreciation for the rare instances of harmony between the human and natural worlds. It has always been my intent to use my education as a resource to create tangible good in the world, and my motivations in both curricular and extracurricular activities have always been rooted in my desire to create change. I'm captivated by the intersection of environmental and social responsibility and want to study how the intentional creation of spaces, objects, and communities can impact the well-being of users and the broader human environment. I believe human habitats that allow for the conservation of natural structures and organisms, as well as the achievement of human goals, are key to thriving in the long term and combating the grave challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. I’m especially interested in how the reuse of existing structures can be utilized in securing a more sustainable and equitable future, shifting away from building and consuming and towards reusing the ample resources we already possess. Solving the great problem of the climate crisis will require input from every existing industry and field, and I aspire to help improve the built environment to provide for human needs in more sustainable and equitable ways. I was lucky enough to be accepted to Middlebury College, my first choice school, after the countless hours of essay writing, research, and planning that are evident of a thorough application process. Though the very nature of a liberal arts college implies many changes of academic course, Middlebury's joint degree in Architectural Studies and Environmental Studies is a perfect opportunity for me to widely explore my interests as I find my calling, learning both the theoretical, practical, and scientific methods behind the profession of architecture. I also hope to take classes in data science, philosophy, and music. After my four years in Vermont, I hope to go on to pursue an accredited master's degree in architecture (BArch), sustainable design, urban and regional planning, or a related field. These goals could be achieved at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the University of California Berkeley College of Environmental Design (CED), or a similar multidisciplinary and forward-thinking academic program. Even if I do not go on to pursue working as a licensed architect, the background in problem-solving, team cooperation, hard sciences, and design that my undergraduate education will have provided me with will serve me well.