If you had told me four years ago that I would be collecting signatures for Enrique Peñalosa, out in the streets, talking to people, making eye contact, and not cluttering my words, I would have thought (not told you) that you were talking about another Federico. I have lived all my life in Bogotá, Colombia, a city where fitting in feels less like a passtime, and more like an aggressive competition for survival. Ñero, Gomelo, Pato, Arribista, Mamerto, Petrista,...

Sometimes I like to sit in silence and nod my head. I genuinely love hearing other people talk. When someone talks, they are not only speaking as the instantaneous version of themselves, they are also talking as the collective album of “selves” that they’ve built during their lifetime. Every word said, and every word kept silent, is an opportunity to experience the world from the reality of others. Having a lifelong habit of learning from the words and actions...

Having lived my whole life in Bogotá, Colombia, where violence, corruption, and planning absurdities have turned the urban fabric into an improvised quilt, I have witnessed the harm that neglect of the urban realm can have on the dignity and empathy of its citizens. Therefore, my dream is to support those neglected by “progress” through the study, design, and adaptation of urban environments. I am confident that if admitted into the University of Pennsylvania I will find the resources and...

For me to say I enjoy studying cities is an understatement. I am absolutely obsessed. At the University of Pennsylvania, I hope to share this passion for urbanism beyond the curriculum of the Urban Studies BA through the creation of a club where members can share their experiences, questions, projects, and ideals in relation to the urban realm. While the “Urban China Collective” already serves a similar purpose under the context of China’s urbanization, my club would be greater...

In my hometown of Bogotá, it is common to hear “Chino”, the Spanish word for a Chinese person, in everyday conversations. Therefore, to the ears of foreigners, it would seem like Bogotá is a place rich with cultural interchange between the predominant Colombian culture and a large Chinese population. The truth, however, is quite the opposite. More often than not, the word “Chino” is not used to refer to a person of Chinese origin, but is rather a highly colloquial...

For me to say that I enjoy studying cities is a great understatement. I am absolutely obsessed. Ask my friends, and they’ll tell you how my Instagram Stories show me dissecting satellite images of my hometown, Bogotá, going into speeches about how private country clubs serve as institutional forms of segregation, how access to transportation is access to generational stability, and how malls are inhibiting the creation of a culture that values public services. Ask my parents, and they�...

For me to say I enjoy studying cities is an understatement. I am absolutely obsessed. Ask my friends, and they’ll tell you how my Instagram Stories show me going into speeches about how access to transportation represents generational stability, or how malls are preventing society from valuing public services. Ask my teachers, and they’ll discuss the park I designed aimed at strengthening social inclusion or the bike lane I’m creating based on local data and meetings I'm...

My homeland, Colombia, is half a planet away from China, and with a Chinese population that could fit in a tennis stadium, China, its people and culture, are only experienced by most in my country, through the media. For this reason, I am extremely grateful to have access to the privilege of taking Mandarin classes with teachers from China. Driven by a longstanding fascination with China's modernity and cultural wealth, learning Mandarin and connecting with Chinese people has been a...

For as long as I can remember, I have felt fascinated by the impacts that cities have on the lives of their citizens and the natural space they occupy. The truth is, my ambition is to serve nature and those neglected by “progress” through the mindful study, design, and adaptation of current and future urban environments. Because of this passion, at USC I hope to major in Urban Studies and Planning. Having the privilege to dive further into the world...

During the first weekend of Semana Santa, Bogotá collapses. As roughly 2 million people attempt to escape, a grand majority through Bogota’s “Autopista Sur”, or Southern Highway, this space becomes a symbol of the social fabric of the city. Autopista Sur’s particular traffic congestion is one of the rare events where Bogotanos from all walks of life are forced to experience the same space while facing the contrasts that keep us divided contrary to the myth of equality promoted...

For me to say I enjoy studying cities is an understatement. I am absolutely obsessed. Ask my friends, and they’ll tell you how my Instagram Stories show me going into speeches about how access to transportation represents generational stability, or how malls are preventing society from valuing public services. Ask my teachers, and they’ll discuss the park I designed aimed at strengthening social inclusion or the bike lane I’m creating based on local data and meetings I'm...