The Little Green Engineer that Could by Elie (Chloe)

The Little Green Engineer that Could by Elie (Chloe) - June 2017 Scholarship Essay

When I was six, I was an aspiring construction worker. My favorite toy was Legos. I especially loved building houses out of Legos. I dreamed of one day building my own house and a great big house for all my friends and family. As I grew older, my fascination with Legos grew. I had a cool dinosaur Tyrannosaurus Rex Lego kit that my mom bought for me. However, I found that the dinosaur couldn’t stand with the instructions given because the body was too heavy. I disassembled the dinosaur and reconstructed it so that he could stand and be displayed.
In middle school, I spent more time drawing. I favored figures and house plans. I spent hours daydreaming about my dream house. My mom was an interior designer and had lots of architectural books. I would look through them for inspiration. My favorite design was an abandoned silo that was transformed into a modern house. I loved the idea of a cylindrical house because it is a strong shape. Also, a cylindrical house would be ideal in a windy area because of its aerodynamic shape. I drew out house plans almost daily, drawing a three or four-story silo with a fire pole in the middle for practicality and fun. I imagined my dream kitchen on the bottom floor with a huge island and plenty of counter space so that I could cook delicious foods and entertain my friends and family. I loved science and was fascinated by alternative energy and sustainability, so I wanted a home that used renewable energy for its main source of power. I thought of having my own mini wind turbine farm in my backyard and solar panels on the roof.
As a high school student, I still found interest in structures and building things, so I took a drafting class. My drafting teacher encouraged me to join Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) club. I loved it so much, I took a few more courses like an introduction to engineering and principles of engineering. I finally had found my calling. The summer of my junior year, I was awarded a full scholarship to attend UNCC architecture camp. It was such a valuable experience. Going to Architecture camp helped me decide that I wanted to go into civil engineering, specifically structural engineering. I applied to great engineering schools like North Carolina State University and Virginia Tech. I was accepted to both schools and their engineering programs and chose NC State for in-state tuition. My current major is civil engineering with a concentration in sustainable design. I still imagine building my perfect dream home, but now, my main focus is helping others in constructing their perfect eco-friendly dream home.