María José Fuentes

When I first got the e-mail three years ago outlining my admission to The University of Pennsylvania, I was overwhelmed with emotions. I wasn’t sure what to expect, or if this was the right decision for myself. I couldn’t have imagined ending my academic career alongside such talented and brilliant designers. Words fall short to describe how grateful I am to have had these three years to nourish my mind, as well as to be humbled by knowledge from numerous cultures and perspectives. Although I have been in school a total of seven years now, some of my most precious moments have been outside the school; like walking to Wawa for midnight snacks or grabbing a beer with my professors. The work I’ve produced in school investigated cross-intersections between humans and ecology, humans and color, and humans and community. I hope to carry these three pillars into my future career and professional mantra. My experience at The University of Pennsylvania was a commemoration of my love for eccentricity, innovation, the unfamiliar, and the unconventional. I will forever be grateful that my family, my friends, and my professors gave me the chance to shine as I always felt I could.