Who am I?
It’s a question I’ve been exploring for as long as I can remember. I’m deeply driven by curiosity and challenge whether I’m training for my second-degree black belt in martial arts, competing at the professional level in Ultimate Frisbee, or immersing myself in a creative project. I’ve always thrived on momentum. As an Eagle Scout with six palms and Order of the Arrow honors, I’ve learned the value of dedication and service. As an artist, I’ve been sketching and building since I could first hold a pencil creation has always felt like home.
But accomplishments alone don’t define me. If I had to distill it down, I’d say I’m elated. Energized by the unknown. Continuously searching for the next problem to solve, the next skill to learn, the next thing to make. I don’t give up until I figure it out and I genuinely love the process. That mindset, more than any title or achievement, is what I believe sets me apart.
Still, maybe that’s just one version. Who I am is up to interpretation. I invite you to decide for yourself.
Statement of
Purpose
The motivation to study design is inherently tied to curiosity, a force that drives individuals to seek understanding in the world around them. For me, this curiosity has been a constant throughout my life. As a child, I was captivated by questions that spanned across a multitude of disciplines. Why do certain animals thrive in their environments? How do vehicles achieve such extraordinary speeds? What makes art so irresistibly engaging, and why does it command the attention of its audience? These were the kinds of questions I grappled with daily, pursuing answers with an insatiable drive to understand. As I grew, I dived into diverse activities that aligned with my varied interests. I built cars to learn the intricate workings of engines and transmissions, and I took welding classes to explore how disparate materials could be fused together to form something new and functional. Each of these pursuits led me down a path of discovery, but it wasn’t until I encountered design that I found the perfect confluence of my passions.
What draws me to design — particularly within the realm of environmental design — is its unique ability to blend abstract thought with tangible structure. My experience working in construction exposed me to the practical, hands-on aspects of creating spaces, yet I often found the industry stifling in its narrow scope. The focus there was on precision, adherence to rules, and the elimination of uncertainty, all of which, though necessary, lacked the spark of innovation I craved. I sought a discipline where I could push beyond the constraints of the ordinary, to challenge the boundaries of creation and explore new realms of possibility. Environmental design has provided me with just that. It allows me to construct concepts that are not only grounded in logic but also creativity and imagination.