Scholarship / I chose to study Bachelors in Architectural Design due to reasons I have acquired in my life. [4]

Please tell me if there's anything wrong in what I've written or if I need to add something to make it sound better.

Do comment on it!

Q. How did you choose the proposed course and institution?

Ans.
I chose to study Bachelors in Architectural Design due to reasons I have acquired in my life. Growing up, I never thought of doing anything in the engineering design field but I liked mathematics in school and I had a hobby in sketching. Like most sketch artists I filled drawing pads with island landscapes, endangered species and nature.

In Fiji, being brought up in a family without brothers; the older sisters play two roles in the household so after my father's passing away; I had do the masculine chores as well. Although this was hard to bear I experienced challenges in life, learnt how to overcome them and became very independent. I first gained interest in house plans while looking through my mothers' landscape magazines and books; it gave me a sensation to plan and design structures. Later in high school I took up Technical Drawing because I was eager to enhance my skills in drawing. However, it was unusual to see females doing a male subject in school, but I was not going to let sexism keep me from doing what I loved to do. I learnt more on building and designing and was introduced to architecture. I began viewing latest architecture in the world, learning that as technology advanced so did the world of engineering; and I wanted to be part of it.

On the verge of finishing high school, I decided that I wanted to earn a career as an architect. Unfortunately in Fiji, local universities did not offer courses for Bachelors in Architecture; it was only available abroad. I looked through universities in developed neighboring countries and according to my findings, Australia has some of the best universities offering architecture courses and it is a country advanced in engineering. I applied to a few universities, specifically University of Adelaide, Griffith University and University of Queensland.

I was happy to receive an offer letter from Griffith University to study architecture at their institution as an international student. I visited their website and was engrossed in the learning environment, the guaranteed student services and compliments of current international students. I would have gladly accepted the offer to study at Griffith but since my family faced few financial problems, I was not granted the financial support I needed.

I still want to further my studies in architecture and I would take any chance on an opportunity to achieve this.

Scholarship / Short ESSAY(400 WORDS) for AUSAID Scholarship 2017 intake! Practical examples of... [NEW]

Please see how I've written this essay and comment on it's faults. ASAP before it's closing date this month!

Q. Please:- a) give up to three practical examples of how you intend to use the knowledge, skills and connections you will gain from your scholarship. Possible tasks can be personal and/or professional; and

b) list any possible constraints you think may prevent you from achieving these tasks

Ans.
From this scholarship, I intend to use my skills to improve physical structures in our Pacific society and simultaneously promote environmental awareness for our island homes. I understand that the job of a designer is to solve the problems of civilians with regards to engineering and to me; an architect does more than just planning buildings. Her role is to also create a secured habitat and an attractive place that serves a great economical, recreational, social, spiritual and physical purpose.

My love for nature influences my aim in wanting to make our communities better places to live in for people and mostly our endangered species. I wanted a career where I can do what I love and at the same time help to conserve nature. In Fiji, we treasure and show significance to three things in life: God, family and the land. We treasure family and our land because these are the things in which our culture and traditions derive from. Our land is our history and identity therefore I wish to protect it from environmental threats. The recent Cyclone Winston, known to be the strongest cyclone in the southern hemisphere, left parts of my country in devastation. By the sight of the destructed houses and environment, one could tell the amount of loss village inhabitants were faced with. This incident reminded me of one of the reasons I wanted to do engineering. I wanted to improve homes and buildings in our region from occurring disasters that enter our waters and create stronger barriers that can secure people. Good structures and foundations seem to be lacking in most rural communities and these are the ones in real need of such aspects in building.

As a developing nation, engineers and designers are in demand in Fiji. Most local tradesmen are skilled, but we need high standard expertise from overseas if we are to improve our engineering grounds. I want to further my studies in architecture to help expand our engineering field and also help our economy grow.

I usually carry out tasks to the best of my abilities and when I see that something right needs to be done, I go out of my way to do it and avoid procrastination. Although there may be certain constraints due to financial or physical matters, since this is something that the society can benefit from, these constraints can be avoided.