Oracle Summer 2020

By: Ilona Makovetskaya, Grade 11 How did you spend your summer vaca- tion? Upper Schooler William’s answer to that question might surprise you, as he spent much of the summer enrolled in a very special internship hosted virtually by The Cooper Union! The aspiring architect recently spoke to The Adelphi Oracle about his unique ex- perience. Q: What made you interested in pursu- ing a career in architecture? How long ago did you make this choice? A: In high school, I was truly amazed about how buildings and structures were built from ground up. So I started doing research into what career that fell into and it just so happens to be architecture. Q: Where did you learn about The Cooper Union’s online program “Introduction to Architecture?” A: I was researching architecture schools in New York City and The Cooper Union is one of the most prestigious schools. I visited its website and found out about the program and I willingly applied for it. Q: What have you specifically done in the program? Who did you work with and how? A: During the five weeks of the pro- gram, I learned about design and created 3- D figures using software. I also received lessons on architecture from The Cooper Union students and professors over Zoom video calls. Q: Have you ever tried doing art or design digitally on your own before? If you have, then how does it compare to how you did it during this program? If not, how was this experience? A: It was quite an experience since I have never done any type of art in digital form. I was very excited and worked hard to keep up with the program. Q: How do you think the program would have been different if you were actually at The Cooper Union in person and in the classes? A: I believe that I would definitely have learned at a faster pace because in physical form people can help each other, not by just talking over a computer. Not only that, but I believe there would have been more interaction with my peers, although we did have some during Zoom calls. Q: What do you feel was the most challenging part of this program? Can you give me some examples? A: The most challenging part of the program was the learning curve and work- ing on my own. Students are responsible for their own work and progress each day. Q: What are some new skills you learned or gained from this experience? How do you feel they will guide you throughout your architectural career? A: Skills that I learned from this experi- ence would be the basics of a 3-D model- ing software named Rhino, and turning those designs into physical models. Continued on page 6 P A G E 4 , T H E A D E L P H I O R A C L E , S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 Summer Scoop: Aspiring Architect William Completes The Cooper Union Internship ABOVE: Upper Schooler William showcases his portfolio from his summer internship at The Cooper Union during an online interview with Oracle Co-Managing Editor Ilona. AT RIGHT: A close-up view of one of William’s designs.