In the fall of 2021, I began the most impactful journey for my academic and professional trajectory in Granada, Spain. For the first time, I was entirely immersed in the acquisition of another language, and speaking a new language felt like flying. Beyond interactions with Spaniards, outside the classroom I practiced Spanish with new friends spanning the globe. I visited many cities in Spain, as well as Portugal and Switzerland. I was moved by the value for efficient public transportation, arts and culture, and sustainability. The beauty of different corners of our globe, and how cultures manage, maintain and beautify their land and open spaces fascinated me. 

My main focuses lie in sustainable urban planning and landscape design, with an interest in tourism. With this, I am exploring a thesis in investigating all-inclusive resorts through GIS, economic, and historical analysis. I have professional experience with GPS field work, GIS mapping, and exposure to landscape architecture design and project processes, and hope to work on urban open space planning in the future. I am applying for the DAAD scholarship in Germany for a master’s in urban design, management, and landscape studies, as well as landscape architecture and regional planning masters around the US, Canada, and Ireland.