Expanding My World by Audrey

Expanding My World by Audrey - January 2018 Scholarship Essay

One word that describes why I chose to attend college is EXPAND. I want my knowledge to expand beyond what I learn in the classroom. I want my worldview to expand when I meet people who have different life experiences than me. I want my passions to expand as I try new things and immerse myself in enrichment activities. And I want to expand my ability to collaborate with others to achieve goals.
My first reason for choosing to attend college is my dream to become an architect and contribute to the betterment of society by tackling the issue of affordable housing. With the coursework, classroom experiences, and learn-by-doing internships, I’m delving deeply into the fields of architecture and engineering. American cities are facing an affordable housing shortage. As people migrate towards cities and away from small towns, often there aren’t enough accommodations to absorb rising populations. Housing has become so unaffordable that low-income families crowd in unsafe homes and apartments. In fact, in Los Angeles County in 2017, more than 57,000 people are homeless. Those with the lowest incomes spend about 70% of their income on rent, leaving very little for food, clothing, medical care, and education.
This is how I hope to change America. My goal in studying architecture has evolved from simply building beautiful structures to using my passion for architecture to help people. I dream of designing affordable housing, helping the homeless get off the street. I want to design houses that feel like home for families living in cramped apartments or in houses that aren’t structurally sound. I want to design community centers so neighborhoods can come together and support each other. I want to build up the lives of those who are in the worst circumstances. I know that hardships and budget limitations abound in tackling housing issues, but we need to start somewhere and we need to get started now. And I know change can begin with me. When I finish college, I’ll have a quality education as a foundation, hands-on experiences to take with me into the workforce, and a mindset that’s been expanded and inspired by everyone I’ve met.
My second reason for attending college is the opportunity I have to learn from people who have different upbringings, different goals, and different viewpoints. My school’s student population is more than 20,000, and while I’ll meet only a fraction of these students during my five-year program, I know that each person I meet and interact with will inspire me with their stories of where and how they grew up and where they are headed. I firmly believe that discovering shared goals and ideals will create opportunities for collaboration, growth, and action. Not only will this expand my mind, but it will also help me understand how people from different cultures can work together, get along, and learn from each other. And that’s vital for creating a world where common goals are achieved and people are lifted up with new possibilities for success--and where social and economic justice can be celebrated and embraced.
My third reason for attending college is to look beyond my own region and get involved in a new community. I’ve lived in the same house in Pennsylvania my whole life and I chose to attend a school in California in hopes of seeing the world from the other coast (and as a stepping stone to future adventures abroad). I have access to new activities now--kayaking in the bay, a 10-minute jaunt to the beach, and hiking the Central Coast’s foothills. Living 3,000 miles away from home has expanded my life skills, teaching me how to be more independent, honing my decision-making skills, and and inspiring me to live beyond my comfort zone. My seven roommates have enriched my freshman experience and have introduced me to new foods, new music, and new passions. They’ve expanded my knowledge of the West Coast and its vibe and are sharing their viewpoints on life and current events.
In just four short months, my world has expanded. And that was my goal in attending college--to explore beyond the familiar, embrace the new and unknown, and step into a world of higher learning and hands-on doing. All in order to EXPAND.