Francheska Reed

Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina

I chose Cornell AAP because their organizations interest me — especially CUSD, Design Connect, and NOMAS — since I am very passionate about sustainability and being able to apply what I learn directly into communities via local projects.

Why did you choose Cornell and AAP?

I chose Cornell because it instills the drive that my favorite architect, Zaha Hadid, possessed within every student on campus. Cornellians believe in their greater potential and a vision for a better future. There is no school as inclusive and open-minded as Cornell when students bring complex ideas and designs to the table. I chose Cornell AAP because their organizations interest me — especially CUSD, Design Connect, and NOMAS — since I am very passionate about sustainability and being able to apply what I learn directly into communities via local projects. Within Cornell, there are beautiful gorges to inspire, hills to keep me fit, passionate faculty and diverse peers, flexibility, and the campus is already setting an example of sustainable spaces with five certified LEED platinum buildings. These are just some of the reasons why I cannot imagine myself anywhere else other than the Cornell family. I am so hungry to learn and use my education to change the world, and Ezra Cornell himself lived by this fundamental principle of the university: "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." No other college can replicate what Cornell possesses, and I've finally found a home that gives me the freedom to experience life in its entirety.

What are your extracurricular interests and how have you incorporated them into your college life?

Some of my extracurricular interests include participating in tae kwon do as a first degree black belt, playing lacrosse, and volunteering in the community. In my free time when I am not doing those three activities, I enjoy playing, singing, and making music, as well as creating art through drawing or painting. I would also like to expand my curiosity with sculpting. To summarize, my passion lies within the arts — visual, performing, and even martial arts.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time at AAP and after graduation?

While at AAP, I would like to learn more about architecture and how it impacts daily lives and our surroundings. With that in mind, I would like to use that knowledge to design better spaces that not only challenge traditional perceptions of architecture but also serve as a sustainable and durable space for the users who need it. My dream is to extend these goals worldwide, especially to third-world countries who are in extreme need of housing or certain spaces.

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