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In Spring 2022, I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study abroad in Italy through UF's satellite program at the Vicenza Institute of Architecture. Having never travelled outside the country before, I was able to see and experience so many new things within this four-month excursion. I traveled to eight different European countries, I experienced snow for the first time, learned how to ski on the Alps, relished local cuisine and sampled countless new dishes, and visited several world renowned landmarks. I learned how to navigate conversations in Italian, how to rely on public transportation systems, and how to settle into a new life in a foreign country on my own.
None of these experiences would have been possible without the support I received from the Fund for Education Abroad Foundation and the Daniel Sinclair Bredahl Scholarship. Check out the links below to view my scholarship recipient statements and entries! |
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NOMAS seeks to inspire, challenge, and educate our world's future architects by promoting diversity, community engagement, and professional development within the design profession. Serving as a member of this organization's executive board the past two years, I was able to find my voice within the College of Design, Construction, and Planning at the University of Florida (UF). Not only does the diversity of cultural backgrounds that NOMAS celebrates has allowed me to embrace my own Vietnamese heritage, it also fosters a welcoming environment for people of various experiences, perspectives, and upbringings — utilizing these differences as a way to enhance design ideas and methods.
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Following the social and political upheavals of the Black Lives Matter movement in Summer 2020, a group of UF School of Architecture (SoA) students, alumni, and I co-founded the Coalition in Design (CiD). In collaboration with UF SoA faculty, CiD is instituting accountability, reviewing recruitment practices, and restructuring the curriculum to account for structural racism within the college. As CiD and UF SoA continue to engage in the crucial conversation of equity and inclusion, I have seen many more individuals willing to listen and participate in this communal dialogue. I am proud to say my involvement with NOMAS and CiD has brought UF SoA a step closer towards substantial change for a more conscious and equitable future.
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Among the 500 undergraduate architecture students at UF, every body has their own unique personalities and set of perspectives that influences their design styles and approaches. Through my involvement in the NOMAS Design Competition Team, I have had the privilege of working with a dynamic team of 15-20 of these students to showcase our knowledge and application of design principles to real-world project scenarios — gaining exposure to the architecture industry while enhancing my own technical and interpersonal skills.
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As a recipient of the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship, a full-grant scholarship for low-income first-generation students, UF has opened doors to many opportunities for me that I might not have otherwise experienced because of financial barriers. I became invested in the MFOS Peer Mentoring Program as a way to give back to the UF/MFOS community and to further understand my first-generation identity. College can be a scary place, especially for incoming students who are starting their transition from high school to university. Reflecting upon my own struggles and progress during my freshman year, I want to guide other first-year students in setting and achieving their goals as they embark on this new phase of their lives.
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