Growing up, I moved around a lot. It was always hard being the new kid that had been immersed into different cultures each time I moved somewhere, and having to readjust constantly at a young age was a lot for me. When I got older, my health started getting worse: mentally, physically, spiritually. Eventually, by the time I got to college, I had hit one of my lowest points and my first semester was terrifying, being alone for so long and this far away from home. High school wasn’t that far behind but I missed the familiarity whereas here, I knew nothing and no one.
However, when the new semester came and Studio started up, eventually the image of being the broken girl who didn’t seem to be able to do anything, much less “correctly,” people started talking to me and welcoming me, and before I knew it, we had created a family. Within Studio and outside of Studio, the memories that were created through laughter, stress over projects, the bond of the wake up call chain we made to get to Studio at 5 AM had helped me finally have a place where I felt like I belonged. Being home away for so long wasn’t so bad anymore now that I had a new home.
To some, it may not seem that important, but home to me is everything, even with the arguments and the occasional brokenness within. But I wouldn’t trade my Architecture family for the world.
Thanks, you guys, for making Studio & other classes more bearable, despite the hard times, and for knowingly or unknowingly being there for me when I felt like falling apart. 💕
Dani Phantom, over & out.
Dani Grace Gonsalves | 2nd Year Architecture Student | From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania