Summer is almost here, bringing warm days as the school year wraps up. With finals and graduation around the corner, I find myself reflecting on my journey in architecture, from starting my bachelor’s degree in 2019 to now. It’s a good time to appreciate all the hard work and dedication that went into countless projects and assignments, and to be proud of how far I’ve come. As this chapter ends, I’m excited for what’s next: a summer internship with Kellogg Architects Inc., an architecture studio in San Francisco.
Hello, everyone. I’m Cristian, a fifth-year architecture student at Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Taiwanese parents, and moved to Madrid, Spain, at age 13. I finished high school at the American School of Madrid, and started my architecture degree at Universidad CEU San Pablo. My upbringing has been a blend of different cultures, environments, and languages. During my fourth year, I spent a transformative year abroad at the University of Edinburgh, which was one of the most enriching parts of my education.
Moving to a new country for new experiences is always challenging, but it’s a key part of personal growth. It pushes you to embrace new challenges and horizons. It’s tough, but the rewards are immense. Therefore, I aimed to secure an opportunity abroad that matched my values and had an international perspective, something that truly resonated with me.
I found out about Architect-US through my university. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but after attending a few of their conferences and learning how the program works, I was convinced to give it a shot and see if I could land a summer internship. I submitted my application, and Architect-US took care of the paperwork, making the visa process easier and more efficient while I was taking care of my university responsibilities.
I received my visa a week ago, and now all that’s left is to pack my bags and head to San Francisco! It promises to be an incredible journey, and I can’t wait to see what I discover.
