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Something sizzles in me whenever I enter Kuala Lumpur. The city's architecture is a mélange of culture, a reminder of our past and a source of pride for the present and future. The colonial Straits Eclectic shop-house reflects Malaysia's vibrant and diverse past. Chinese-style carven doors combine eloquently with European shuttered windows and vivid tiles. Architecture intrigues me for its ability to render a society's heritage and aspirations into a visual and usable form. As a child, looking up at the Petronas Twin Towers stirred awe and pride, along with a sense that they were distinctly Malaysian and fitted into the city perfectly. More recently, I have gained a deeper appreciation of their Islamic design influences and embodiment of Malaysia's ambition for advancement. This new understanding exhilarates me and leaves me thirsting for a greater comprehension of structures. Studying architecture will meet this desire and allow me to contribute in a distinctive way to society. I have read various books including Rasmussen's "Experiencing Architecture," Pallasmaa's "Eyes of the Skin," and essays on urban spaces in Asia. All these reveal a wealth of ideas waiting. Shortly after beginning on "Eyes of the Skin," I attended a public lecture on constructed atmospheres and was thrilled to see in application Pallasmaa's idea for architecture to rise beyond ocularcentrism. The architect also discussed the use of physics, such as, applying convection currents to create different temperature zones within a constructed space. With its unique interplay of the arts and sciences, architecture is ideal for my dual strengths, as seen in my IGCSE results and present A Level combination. Spending a month interning at an architecture firm has acquainted me with the architect's attention to detail. From the importance of a symmetrically placed electrical switch and the ungainly effect of an unintentionally exposed beam to scoring meticulously for a model, the internship has highlighted the precision needed to practise in this field. It also gave me a taste of the profession's demanding nature. I feel readier for this having spent a year studying ballet pre-professionally in Melbourne. Training was mentally and emotionally challenging and developed my discipline and perseverance. I was fortunate to have another wonderful experience this year. I stayed in a village in rural East Malaysia where homes are self-built. No two wooden houses are exactly alike. Narrow, meandering pathways link them. It is the complete opposite of the homogeneity of suburban houses and organised beauty of Haussmann's Paris. I was struck by the way each house is customized to suit the needs of its owners. It calls to mind Toyo Ito's description of architecture as a "piece of clothing" that wraps around its inhabitants. I also admire the villagers' resourcefulness in the use of materials. Bamboo, abundant and easy to transport, is used for verandas, pathways and utility poles. The trip left me with a sense of the endless possibilities of architectural design and construction. I have always been passionate about the arts, having studied art since age six and seriously considered a career in ballet. Yet, I thrive too in the mental stimulation of academic work. Finding architecture at this juncture in my life is delightful. I am happy at its multi-disciplinary nature and excited at the prospect of creating meaningful environments for people to linger, move through and dwell in.