Architecture SOP; What experiences have either inspired your interest in architecture or sustain it?

The essay is expected to answer the following questions:

What experiences have either inspired your interest in architecture or sustain it?
What do you believe architecture can offer our culture as a whole?
What do you expect to get out of education in architecture?
What are your three favorite spaces and why?
Relate a poignant spatial experience?
What are your three favorite books and why?

Green Architecture interests me the most

In my part of the world, it is not uncommon for parents to groom their kids towards careers like Medicine, Law, and Petroleum Engineering as they see these careers as a getaway card from poverty. Those were the lines I towed while growing up, my Mom thought I would make a good Medical Doctor, because of my patience and compassion. As I grew older, my thinking faculties developed, I quickly realized that a career in medicine does not fascinate me. In secondary school, I excelled brilliantly in Technical Drawing and felt elated with my A3 paper, 'Rotring' Clutch pencil, moveable drawing board and always looking forward to Technical Drawing classes.

With my limited knowledge of possible future careers, I never thought of Architecture as a suitable career path, I figured I would probably end up studying an engineering course, but as fate would have it, in my senior Secondary school year 2, we moved to a new neighborhood and in our mosque was a scaled model of the proposed worship centre. The mosque became my favorite place. I would sit for hours after Jumat to marvel at this masterpiece in an enclosed glass casing. It was at one of my mosque viewings that an older worshipper who had noticed me earlier, engaged me in a discussion about my fascination with the scaled model and introduced me to Architecture. At that moment, I knew exactly what it was I wanted to do with my life.

Studying Architecture in the university would have to rank up there with some of the best experiences that have shaped my life. And if it has taught me anything, it is that architecture is a very powerful tool in shaping and driving cultural discourse.

The 21st century world is plagued by several problems, and the one that gets me concerned the most is 'Global Warming'. As architects, I believe that sustainability in design practices should be a tool to spread the news about global warming, encouraging clients and building users to embrace green architecture, like incorporating ample natural light and ventilation system to reduce dependence on mechanical modes of lighting and cooling as a way of contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions to the atmosphere.

As much as I have completed five years of undergraduate study, there are still lots to learn. Also, the essence of traveling can never be overemphasized to an Architect, so an opportunity to study in a different country in a different clime and culture is an experience I'm looking forward to having. The desire to explore how science and technology can be used to improve the performance of building both socially and environmentally in developing countries also provides a spark of interest in my scholarly pursuit. I am particularly interested in the area of Green Architecture, as I feel that I would in my own little way shape my immediate environment with my practices.

I am an avid sports lover, with Soccer being my favourite, I also enjoy reading, Daniel Silva's 'Gabriel Allon' series are my addictions, as through these books I've traversed across Europe and the Americas with a gifted Artist in the fight of good over evil,

Dr. Ben Carson's 'Gifted Hands', reinforced my belief that hard work and persistence are keys to success and backgrounds do not really mean a thing when you have dreams,

J.P Clark's 'Ibadan' is my favorite poem of all time, as it pays tribute to one of the oldest civilizations in southwestern Nigeria, an ode to built environment of the olden days "...running splash of rust and gold flung and scattered among seven hills like broken China in the sun" .

The Master of Architecture program at the University of Manitoba would provide me with the understanding of transforming the lessons of history, technology, culture and social aspirations. The academic freedom would also give room for improvement on my creativity and problem solving skills. I believe my decision to pursue the post graduate program would meet my career goals and the knowledge, skills and experiences gained through such program would bring newer insights in my professional potential and the ability to achieve meaningful change.

On the completion of my postgraduate programme, I would like to practice in Canada for a short period for some post-graduation experience thereafter return back to Nigeria for private practice which would include consultations for existing firms and government Parastatal in the country with a view of influencing both the built environment and policy making.

Memud, you have developed a pretty good essay here. It is engaging, informative, interesting, and offers a clear insight into the development of your love for architecture and your future plans in terms of your career. That is not to say that the essay is without problems. In fact, it has some pretty serious problems in terms of delivering on the prompt requirements.

To begin with, you only indicate a spatial experience in the essay. While this is one of the major requirements that the reviewer will consider with your application, you neglected to address the 3 favorite spaces that comes with this particular prompt requirement. An incomplete response will result in the reviewer considering less of your statement of purpose as being responsive to the prompt. Keep in mind that each question provided as a guide to you actually signifies a truly important part of the application considerations. Therefore, you must go back and revise the essay to include the missing links in terms of your 3 favorite places.

When you discuss your favorite books, there is actually no sense in making the sports reference because that does not have a direct relation to the book you mentioned in the succeeding sentence. So you can remove that reference without affecting your response to the prompt. By the way, it would benefit your essay to have you lengthen your description as to why you have chosen these books as your favorite. Right now, the explanation you have given for each book sounds like you could have picked off the back of the book synopsis. Also, I am not sure if the poetry that you mentioned as part of your favorite books is actually considered a book in most circles. Please clarify that for us.

I've been able to make some modifications. This is the new draft.

In my part of the world, it is not uncommon for parents to groom their kids towards careers like Medicine, Law, and Petroleum Engineering as they see these careers as a getaway from poverty. Those were the lines I towed while growing up, my Mom thought I would make a good Medical Doctor, because of my patience and compassion. But as I grew older I realized that a career in medicine does not fascinate me.

With my limited knowledge of possible future careers, I never thought of Architecture as a suitable career path, I figured I would probably end up studying an engineering course, but as fate would have it, in my senior secondary school year 2, we moved to a new neighborhood and in our mosque was a scaled model of a proposed worship centre. The mosque became my favorite place. I would sit for hours after Jumat to marvel at this masterpiece in an enclosed glass casing. It was at one of my mosque viewings that an older worshipper who had noticed me earlier, engaged me in a discussion about my fascination with the scaled model and introduced me to Architecture. At that moment, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. Studying Architecture in the university ranks up there with some of the best experiences that have shaped my life and cultural discourse.

On the occasions I get to travel to my home town, my Grandma's house is designed as a typical Yoruba homestead with a courtyard, and relaxing in the courtyard is one of my fondest memories, her kitchen which also opens to the courtyard gives the feeling of inclusion yet secluded, hence, one only hears the sound of pounding mortars and chopping boards but cannot see what is being prepared till the final dish is presented. The toilet is also a favorite space of mine, as it is so much poetic as it practical, on one hand you're the dirtiest you can be (passing out waste products) and from there you proceed to be washed clean (using the shower).

The 21st century world is plagued by several problems, and the one that gets me concerned ...

I have gained insight on how architecture can be used to subconsciously shape its users way of thinking when the frontage lawn in the student affairs building was redesigned by planting dwarf hedges around it to stop students perpetual habit of crossing the lawn.

After my five years of undergraduate study, there are still lots to learn. Also, the essence of traveling can never be overemphasized to an Architect, so an opportunity to study in a different country with different clime and culture is an experience I'm looking forward to having. The desire to explore how science and technology can be used to improve the performance of building both socially and environmentally in developing countries also provides a spark of interest in my scholarly pursuit.

I enjoy reading, Daniel Silva's 'Gabriel Allon' series are my addictions, as through these books I've traversed across Europe and America with a gifted Artist in the fight of good over evil,

Dr. Ben Carson's 'Gifted Hands', reinforced my belief ...

Memud, there has to be a sense of decency and decorum in the essay that you wrote. That said, you should remove the references to passing waste and needing to take a shower in the bathroom. The reviewer and pretty much everyone else is very clear about what goes on the toilet so there is no need to be graphic about it. It comes across as ill educated when you do that. As for the shower area in the bathroom, I guess you can retain that as your third place if you explain more about the sense of architecture in the design of the bath area rather than simply saying that it is the place where you get clean. In the book section, you cannot use a singular poem as a reference there. The precise requirement is that it must be an inspirational book. Had you said that the poem was the title of a book of poems, it would have been acceptable because a collection of poems that inspires you passes as a book. If this is the title of a book of poems, then indicate it as such to make it fall more within the criteria of the prompt requirements. If it is not a book of poems, then find a 3rd book, an actual book, that inspires you. It doesn't have to be a serious topic book, it can be whimsical if you wish.