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Hi there! I’m Sylvania Peng, a senior at the Peddie School in New Jersey.

For as long as I can remember, art has been my language of choice. From late-night painting and charcoal studies to experimenting with film and photography, I’ve used creativity to sort out the chaos of the world around me — and within. But I never expected that same passion for storytelling and design would eventually lead me to architecture.

When I was younger, my dad — a history buff —used to drag me through every museum and historic site he could find. At first, I just went to make him happy. However, somewhere along the long tours and ancient stone walls, something shifted. My appreciation slowly grew alongside my perspective. I began to recognize that buildings retain memories and how every arch and column tells a vivid story. Soon, I was the one planning the itinerary, eager to explain the hidden history behind every landmark to him.

That’s when I realized that architecture is not only about aesthetically pleasing buildings, but more so about the people, culture, and creativity woven into our everyday lives. I became more conscious of how art, history, and the human experience interact. And as someone who loves sharing ideas and discovering meaning in the world around me, I can’t wait to keep pursuing how design choices immortalize human experiences.

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