A College Essay

Finger to her lips, my mom ushered me and my sister into another lobby complete with brass elevators and ornate arched doorways. I stared up in awe at the meticulously tiled ceiling and listened to my mom softly explain to the concierge that we just want to have a look around. He peered down at two angelic faces and could not refuse. I was elated to continue the exploration of Chicago’s hidden gems on what my mother referred to as her lobby tours. My sister and I tiptoed across the polished terrazzo toward the majestic white marble stairway as if we were to adorn the presiding royalty with priceless gifts. We walked in wonderment through the vaulted corridor of the classic Chicago lobby as if in the presence of power and greatness. Throughout my childhood my mom treated me to these downtown excursions which became my earliest exposure to the architecture of Chicago. I explored majestic atriums and treasured the ornamental ironwork and intricately carved balusters. Although I did not recognize the architects’ names, I valued the sophistication in the smallest detail of their celebrated works and the contributions they have made to beauty, stability, and historic value. Today I still take time to experience the grandeur of Chicago architecture. These downtown visits and those of my childhood inspired my wish to study the field of architecture. To discover the focus and determination of the architects who designed the magnificent structures that define Chicago architecture would satisfy my academic curiosity. To learn the mechanics of the structures themselves would prepare me to join the ranks of a profession I respect and admire.