My name is Jalen Vasquez, and I graduated from WHSAD in June of 2017. A major goal of mine when I graduated was to use the architecture programs that we learned in the most effective way, becoming a Real Estate project manager. Right now I go to Howard University and I’m in the Architecture & Engineering program. To reach my goals I’m applying to as many scholarships as I can. I actually got an internship coming up this year at R2L:Architects in DC during the school year. Slowly but surely I am reaching my goal.
A big motivation for me once I left high school was always living in NY, and seeing all these big buildings and living in a small tight apartment. I always wanted to build my own home and a place which can help families create better lives. I always wanted that better life for myself. Another point that motivates me is seeing how well architects do and seeing where I can get with it as far as the technology that goes into building homes and the process of getting to that final step of construction. It’s inspiring and it shows how much at a time you can do to create such a big project. In the future I see myself as a real estate project manager, and owning my own architecture firm. I’ve actually already been thinking of the name, Sunny Residential, since Sunny is my nickname. I see myself building my own house and having a family in the house I created and helping others do the same. 
College really helped me mature, even though I’ve only been in college for one year and I feel like I’ve matured a lot from high school to college. I realized how important staying on task and timing and planning are. It’s kind of difficult at first, but it starts to get easier as long as you keep up that planning and pace yourself at a good time then you’ll be fine in life. You just have to be focused and dedicated. College has had a huge impact on me; it helped me meet a lot of new people and connect with people around the world. I’ve met people from India, Japan, and California. It’s really a great connection. An advantage of being away from my home and my family is that it really teaches you responsibility and it teaches you how to manage your money and yourself. Things that come down to even your diet and you taking care of all that basically by yourself. A disadvantage would be missing your friends, although everyone doesn’t always stay together because you split up, just make sure that you keep in contact with them as it’s always good to hear about other people’s experiences. Building my own home has pushed me to want to succeed and trying to get to the point where I want to do that as a luxury and that I won’t be forced into anyone else’s complex, apartment, or condo. It’s being able to own my own home and being able to support my family to the fullest.