Formal Letter of Introduction
401 W, 130th St,
New York, NY 10027.
September 5, 2019.
Professor Crystal Rodwell
1605 Amsterdam Avenue,
New York, NY 10031.
Dear Professor Rodwell:
Mark Twain said, “Without dreams and goals there is no living, only merely existing, and that is not why we are here.” This quote inspired me to write to you about my major and career goals I hope this gives you a better understanding of me as a person and the skills I would like to gain through your classes.
One of my earliest memory is, sitting on my grandfathers lap as he narrated a story that revolved around the famed Chettinadu abodes. This phrase stood out to me, “every house is a story princess and we Chettiars are the best storytellers.” That day I fell in love with India’s palace-like “Chettinadu Homes” where I grew up with my grandparents during kindergarten, my parents in Dubai visiting me annually. Who are Chettiars? Hailing from South-India, they were flourishing connoisseurs of art, world-famous cuisine, and the popular Chettinadu Architecture I am in awe of-a hoary tradition that reinforces my decision to embrace the profession. My immersion into architecture was crystallized when I stepped into architecture-rich Dubai-a city always under a construction boom. Yet, a few questions continued to pester me. In a country where temperatures soar to 50⁰C, why were all buildings made of hermetically-sealed glass? Was Dubai unwittingly creating its own greenhouse, supplemented by humongous electrical cooling systems? By comparison I marveled at the architectural engineering integrating Vasthu (Indian Fengshui) into Chettinadu-homes, which thoughtfully factored in heavy monsoons alongside natural-cooling for the blistering summers.
My main goal is to harness such age-old traditional know-hows to my architectural endeavors or public policy initiatives. Because of my love for antique houses, architectural preservation is another tangent I would like to explore. My dream is to become the Secretary General of the UN and designing a one of a kind refugee camp that changes the narrative of immigration/displacement and sustainable-building along the way. My short-term goals are tailored to developing academic and real-life skills required to achieve these long-term goals. I hope to complete my 5-year bachelor’s in architecture degree and practice in an architecture firm with a focus on: sustainability like KPF or SOM, public policy like NYC DoB/ NYC DDC or architectural preservation like Beyer, Blinde and Belle. I plan on interning each summer in such firms. I would like to sit for my licensing exam once I work the required hours (3 years approximately) and then pursue a master’s in urban planning or public policy advocacy.
I genuinely believe that I can save the world with architecture and can’t wait to traverse this journey! I hope my goals and aspirations gave you a better understanding of me as a person and I would love to hear about your dreams and goals. I look forward to hearing from you!
Yours Sincerely,
Aparna Ramanathan Ramesh
