Statement of Interest-Landscape Architecture Paper Example

It was 5 am in Colorado, the Rockies were cold but the view was surreal. The sun had just come out, everything above timberline was showered by the golden light, and the peaks were all turned into pyramids. I got up early to go hiking with my father. The day before, he was on a 15 hours flight from Nanjing China, where I was born, to Denver, then flew into the mountains in Vail Colorado. I told him that in America it is important for parents to attend high school graduation. He is a big fan of John Denver and his country music but had never been to the U.S. I hadn't seen him for a quite a while, there was a lot to catch up. We talked about friendship, prom dates, opportunities and challenges. Back then, I already knew that I got accepted to architecture program in Parsons School of Design. He showed concern on how I should prepare for this task.

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Later I went to Parsons to start my undergraduate studies. However, New York City was quite challenging as I was not ready for architecture. There is nothing like Colorado where I went to high school. Very few ski spots and the snow were bad. I felt nervous in places like midtown Manhattan where world-famous skyscrapers reached high in the sky. I didn't understand why they would build more luxury buildings while some old brownstone desperately needed renovations. I later moved to Brooklyn, learned about gentrification in Williamsburg, and other problems in a fast-paced society. I did not get the inspiration to study architecture by then. As such, I switched my major to Product Design. I do not regret because I find pleasure in designing, making small furniture and tabletop goods. For the first time, I have the absolute power to dictate small objects, find a way to let them speak for themselves. The essence is that I feel like a storyteller, just helping small objects to complete their backstories. The deeper I'm driven in product design, the more I value the significance of craftsmanship because I understand that there is no instant success in design, and like my father said, a great mind always takes time to grow. Working with different materials on variable projects, I entered a wild world that I have never seen before. I learn how to appreciate the wood grain, I see sign of life and the loss of time; knowing that steel is commonly misunderstood- they could be quite soft and flexible; nonferrous metal offered me a minimalistic perspective while ceramics taught me the language of fire and earth. I fell in love with every material I have worked with.

I study in the School of Constructed Environment at Parsons. Therefore, many faculties come from an architectural background. In my junior year, a professor impacted my life. He worked in the fields of architecture and design for forty-five years. His work focuses on exploring the human activity and the built environment. Naturally, my first question to him was why was not teaching architecture. He responded that to him it sometimes feels like doing architecture work but on a much smaller scale. He was my studio instructor for the semester, I got to meet him often on weekly basis. We talked more about the boundary between art and design. Traditionally, product design is to cultivate technical and critical skill to enhance human activities. Therefore, in most projects, our goal is to provide solutions to an existing problem while addressing contemporary reality. Goal oriented design is challenging. By saying this, I'm not suggesting that solving problem isn't important. In my projects, try to demonstrate the idea of making things out of pure appreciation, which is equally important. If we compare Michelangelo's painting to a traditional Chinese courtyard design, you will find out that one thing they have in common is that they weren't trying to solve problem, they had a desire to fulfill an appreciation, whether they come from nature or religion. They approached differently, but all roads lead to Rome. Pure appreciation inspires and teaches.

I realized that maybe it's not the skyscrapers in midtown Manhattan being stone-hearted. I could not count how many times I have ben to the central park. The buildings might be cold blood, but the city always has its lung on the 59th street, and people who feel lost in the concrete jungle could have a place to hide and find a peace of mind. I walk in the landscape architecture world every day in New York. High-line has its own character too, it is quiet and humble. Stubbornly following the abandoned track, High-Line witnesses all the changes that happened from the old day's meatpacking industry to present Chelsea galleries. I had my moment of enlightenment, I have found a way to put Colorado and New York City together and utilize my skillset on the land that I deeply fell for. By working with natural and structured places, I could have the ability to give urban kids the mountain they dreamed. Essentially, I desire to integrate my knowledge in product design with the next level educational opportunities. I'm thankful for my undergraduate education, I gained great insight and it is time to slightly shift the path.

Conclusion

Upon viewing from a point at the Rockies, I noticed it extended all the way from Canada. I have been in the US for 7 years and experienced challenges and breakthroughs, but I keep reminding myself to stay focused to learn American and Canadian perspectives, I am ready to emphasize the later. It is not random for me to go to Toronto, but it is a desire to expand my knowledge. Canada's land is 42% covered by forest and it would be amazing to learn more of the chillness and freedom and diverse cultural background. The University of Toronto has the campus is quite resourceful. I am interested in learning a diverse environment.