Entering my freshman year at Penn, I really didn’t know what to expect for the next four years in Philly. I thought about the usual big picture question marks such as what I’d end up majoring in, how I may change four years from now, and who I’d meet along the way, but that’s all a part of the excitement of entering college. You can’t fully grasp the road ahead but I met every day with an open mind and embraced the unexpected.

I discovered my passion for architecture during my sophomore year after completing my first studio in Addams Hall. I was intrigued by the complexity and intricacies of each step in the design process.

I discovered my passion for architecture during my sophomore year after completing my first studio in Addams Hall. I was intrigued by the complexity and intricacies of each step in the design process. Working in the architecture industry after Penn was a no brainer. I loved the opportunity to apply the principles of the classroom to the design of creative office space, where our clients spend a majority of their waking hours.

It’s quite amusing to look back on the uncertainty I had going into freshman year versus the greater level of certainty that accompanies me to SAA daily. One of the most important lessons I wrestled with early on at SAA is that success is incremental. I try and confront challenges with this mindset both at SAA and in the real world. What I soon realized is that there will always be a certain level of struggle associated with success. With that struggle comes growth which enables me to build a strong foundation for the years to come. — May 7, 2018 • Photo by Loraine Terrell