CM Scholarship 4

All the classes I’m taking right now are within the architecture program. I’m taking a studio design class, which takes most of my time, where we’re given abstract design problems to solve through several iterations of models & drawings. Everything I design ends up having something to do with triangles, even though I never intend for it at the outset. I’ve discovered that anything I build, no matter the material, is more structurally sound when I use triangles as the basis. Just recently we had our first final review, and mine went very well. We have guest critics come in and critique our work, & the studio professors happened to come into our room during my critique. A lengthy discussion about my model & ideas ensued. I’m also taking History of Architecture & Drawing, both of which are required for all first-year architecture students. My last class is Structural Concepts, which is a required course for second-year students, but I decided to take it this year. I figure that the options for electives will open up more as I get into upper levels, so I might as well take as many required courses now as possible. The teacher is the interim chair of Architecture, Art, & Planning, so I expected him to be busy & to have no time or patience to connect with students. But as it turns out, he’s extremely personable; he says hello to me in the halls & talks to those of us in the front row before class & during breaks. It’s great to discover that even teachers who have a lot on their plate have a passion for what they’re doing and the students they’re teaching.

Work-Study is also included in my financial aid, so I work as a carpenter in the scene shop at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts ten hours per week. It’s a great novelty there that I know how to sew, so I’ve actually spent a lot of my time in the props department. I’ve already helped build two shows this year, & I’ve learned how to use a lot of tools that I never knew existed.

I wanted to go to Cornell because I did a summer program here in architecture the summer after my junior year in high school & absolutely loved it. All the professors & studio TAs loved what they were doing & above all loved Cornell. It’s also consistently the number one Bachelors of Architecture program in the country. When I found out that I got into Cornell, I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to come for financial reasons. USC had offered me a scholarship, so I knew I would more than likely be going there. But then Cornell came through with a grant & I was finally able to fulfill my goal of studying architecture at the top school in the field.

Again, thank you so much for your donations that have allowed me to reach that goal, & hopefully I will be able to continue reaching my goals with the help of a great education.

Sincerely,

Melinda Zoephel