Senior Essay 29

Last summer, I came home from my lawn-mowing business expecting a good shower and dinner waiting for me downstairs. As I walked upstairs about to start the water, my grandma said, “Tj I need you to build me a house.” I thought she was joking, so I laughed it off and said, “Okay, when do you need it built?” while washing the dirt off my hands. Yet, when I turned around, she had a serious expression on her face.

She said she had seen my drawings and liked them. Particularly this one drawing of a house that was bright and modern like the ones on HGTV. She explained to me how she wanted that drawing to become a reality. In response, I smiled and thought I could do it. I hope to work with the designers of the new Arrowhead Stadium. My grandma has already sent me the renderings and wants me to help design a roof for the stadium. I have no choice but to succeed.

The following day, I went to Nebraska Furniture Mart to buy new flooring and cabinets. Afterwards, I went to Home Depot for paint and tools. Before I knew it, I had remodeled her kitchen, the living room, and finally all the bedrooms upstairs and downstairs. After seeing what I did and how well it turned out, I started to sense a new developing passion within myself. I take pride in everything that I do; therefore, after discovering this passion, I decided to pursue it. I want to be able to take the steps necessary to become a confident, creative, and innovative interior designer.

Designing feels like turning ideas in your head into something people can actually see or use. It’s like when you’re working on a project and you don’t just throw stuff together; you think about colors, the layout, how it feels, and what message it sends to people. Designing is kind of like solving a problem, but in a creative way. I plan to excel in my coursework while at the University of Kansas. I will work with my peers to create amazing projects. I want to inspire the people who see my creations so they can help me build things that have never been done before. I will make an effort to reach out to professors for mentorship. As a person, I want to grow in my creativity, leadership, and time management. I will reach out to academic services to make sure that I am on my game when it comes to being a great student. I want to be able to drive past a building one day with pride in knowing that I was a part of the team that brought it to life. I want to be able to say, “I DESIGNED THAT.” Looking at houses and buildings just sets a different mode for me. I look forward to doing this in the next 10 years because this is my passion and what I want to do as a lifetime career. I am willing to dedicate hours, embrace challenges, and accept constructive criticism in order to grow into the best designer I can become. I want to gain hands-on experience through internships and collaborative projects that push my creativity beyond what I think is possible. By continuously learning about new materials, sustainable practices, and innovative technologies, I will stay adaptable in a constantly evolving field. My goal is not only to design beautiful spaces, but also to create environments that improve people’s daily lives and leave a lasting impact on the communities they serve. Design is more than just creating spaces, it is about shaping experiences, solving problems, and leaving lasting impact on the world. I am committed to learning, growing, and pushing the boundaries of my creativity so that every project I work on reflects purpose, innovation, and care. One day, I hope to look back and proudly say, “I designed that,” knowing that my work has inspired, improved, and touched the lives of others. This is not just my career goal; it is my passion, my purpose, and the path I am ready to dedicate my life to.