How I got to architecture by Luis

How I got to architecture by Luis - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Art has been a major part of my life since I was very young; it’s even been documented with pictures of towers I’d build as a toddler, drawing when I was in class as I got older, and eventually going to a high school focused in art.

I want to become an architect, and art has led me to that realization. As I started, I was focused on observational work, sketching and creating hands, cans, shoes, and more with just color pencils and a reference. As I kept going, I began doing portraits and I slowly grew tired, leaning towards creating more original work, both conceptually and by taking my own references and photoshopping to create unique references. My focus as I got to DASH was branching out, creating collages and exploring mixed media instead, and soon enough it became the focus of my AP Drawing portfolio with pieces including sticker collages, 3-dimensional figures, and ripped canvas. But at the same time, I began making mini models for sneakers in another class, where I fell in love with the idea of working 3-dimensonally, and through model making architecture. I quickly began to push the 3-dimensional aspects of my work further and further until I finally began to work on a 3-dimensional portfolio. I took off running, immediately putting myself months ahead of AP scheduling with towering four- to six-foot-tall sculptures featured in my portfolio as I applied to college, even getting into top ranked architecture schools in the country. I do still plan on making pieces within my free time, and on pursuing a bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture next.