From Wide Roads to Sprawling Cities by Sarah

From Wide Roads to Sprawling Cities by Sarah - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Coming from the streets of Cuban recien llegados and entrepreneurs of Hialeah, I traversed the highway daily and never questioned it. I stared in awe at the overlapping interchanges before me, marveling at the strength of the concrete that seemed to support itself magically. As I grew older, I continued these journeys, but as I descended the exit ramps, my attention shifted from the wide roads to the sprawling cities before me. I was no longer concerned with the all-consuming pavement meant for cars, but with the immigrant communities that created the cities. From the Venezuelans of Doral to the Haitians of Little Haiti, they built their cities practically. Unadorned housing complexes, simple shopping centers for their many businesses— anything needed to make ends meet.
It’s such a unique circumstance— a microcosm of mostly Cuban immigrants here in the United States. I have so many questions about how the cities they built have affected them and vice-versa. How do the multitude of warehouses in South Florida affect business operations? How does the car-centric design of these cities affect human connections compared to the design of the immigrants’ native countries? Sea levels are rising: how can South Florida’s infrastructure protect residents from the effects to keep the city and its culture alive?
Amidst my observations, I realized I could combine my passions for STEM, art, and service to create beautiful spaces for my community. The people of my community inspire me to work hard, innovate, and be resourceful just like they had to be to start their lives anew. My own parents are Cuban immigrants and their efforts have given me the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education. I will use this opportunity to give back to my community through architecture. My dream is to understand the culture and personality of the people around me so I can design architecture that makes them proud of the cities they live in.