My name is Asia Dixon. I'm a fourth-year architecture student here at the University
of Tennessee. Education for me has always been number one.
UT Knoxville from what I researched and from what I heard
was a great program for architecture.
Architecture was really - in looking for what I wanted to pursue - was really that
one thing that stood out to me. I wanted to pursue something in which I could use my
artistic background as well my love for math and problem solving. The project
that I submitted was a part of the integrations course here at UT.
This specific project was a design center for sustainability education.
The project wasn't just about creating a gallery or an educational center but
also to have spaces for the community to utilize, so it's really about bringing
the community together and making that tie in between downtown Nashville and
its surrounding community.
What inspires me most about design is being able to make an impression
to make a difference in the lives of other people. It starts on a smaller level as far as
changing the lives of an individual, then changing the lives of a
family, and changing the lives of a community. This is where the built environment
definitely comes into play as far as creating those spaces that promote
health and wellness and just the well-being of the individuals that are affected by it.
It means a lot to me to be able to be a part of this opportunity. I remember
a couple years ago coming upon a magazine article and
reading that the percentage of African-American female licensed
architects has grown to 0.2%. And
so just seeing that and being presented with that
challenge is a personal inspiration to me.
People of different backgrounds definitely can bring different ideas to the table.
One answer may not always be the best answer, so that's where diversity begins
to become important. And just having that social interaction within the firm itself
is definitely healthy for it as well.