This is my acceptance letter to Drury University and the first step in the beginning of my new life. It stands a symbol of my accomplishments, hard work, and determination to succeed and pursue knowledge. This is what began my journey to experience the vast unknown. This letter has allowed me to discover my Drury home.
I've met great people and had incredible experiences that have shaped me. I discovered different ways to think of my environment. I journeyd through the phases of transition. I participated in activities that developed my sense of faith, humility, and service. I gained a FAMILY.
Social Change
Although I am only a Freshman, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the development and creation of Dr. Nancy Chikiraishi's, "Life Interrupted". This is an art installation devised to spread awareness of present day appearances of discriminatory acts in society and it does so by examining the actions taken against Japanese Americans during World War II. Through it I've been able to re-examine the way I perceive and understand people and have also learned to think critically about tense political and societal situations.
First Year Artefacts:
I completed four major projects in my studio class. Below they are in order of completion. Each added a new level of skill to the previous designs. The projects also taught me to focus on craft, reasoning, and exploration of strategy.
First Year Awards:
My work and promise did not go unnoticed. In my first year at Drury I received three awards. The first for Outstanding First Year Architecture Student. The second was for Outstanding First Year Honors Student. The third was for Outstanding New Student. I was also inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta.
My Freshman year was full of firsts. New skills, friends, and lifestyle were all part of the process. I learned to engage, discover, and take risks. I became part of the campus community. People often claim the first year is one of the most difficult and for me it did present challenges. However, I learned to make Drury my second home. By learning about it and wanting to become a part of the community I developed support and a second family. My first year was great!
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face." - Eleanor Roosevelt