{"id":18414,"date":"2024-10-11T08:54:56","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T13:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arch.tamu.edu\/?p=18414"},"modified":"2024-10-11T09:35:15","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T14:35:15","slug":"aggie-ring-day-for-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arch.tamu.edu\/news\/2024\/10\/11\/aggie-ring-day-for-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Aggie Ring Day for Two"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Fraternal twins Mariah and Ashlyn Persyn, class of \u201926, marked a significant milestone on Oct. 10 as they received matching Aggie rings with their family proudly by their side. Both sisters are pursuing degrees in landscape architecture at Texas A&M University, continuing a legacy of Aggie graduates in their family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Continuing the legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Aggie degrees and rings have become a family tradition for the Persyn family of Castroville, Texas. The family now has three generations of former students who all wear matching gold Aggie rings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their mother, Kelly Persyn \u201900, and father, Russell Persyn \u201998, met at Texas A&M and both earned degrees in agricultural engineering. Prior to that, their grandfather, Ken Persyn \u201973, studied animal science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve had this dream of becoming an Aggie since I was in the fourth grade. My family all have matching rings so ours are going to look like theirs,\u201d said Ashlyn. \u201cFor us, it really represents the bridge of the past, the present, and the future all in one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI’ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity,\u201d Mariah said. \u201cThe ring is a representation of all that hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A journey in landscape architecture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Guided by their parents\u2019 encouragement to enroll in a program that blended their strengths in math and art, they applied to the College of Architecture and landed in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning the intricacies of planning and design from the ground up presented challenges, but the support from faculty made a significant impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah said Dingding Ren, a lecturer in landscape architecture, was initially intimidating to them, but throughout the semester, they came to appreciate his feedback and instruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe was one of the first professors I had who honestly critiqued us and gave constructive criticism that made us better,\u201d Mariah said. \u201cHe really built me up in the way I design now and shaped how I think through things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Real-world experience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Both twins interned with companies in the landscape architecture industry this past summer in San Antonio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was a really cool experience,\u201d said Mariah, who interned with NP Studio, a full-service landscape architecture firm. \u201cI did a lot of work in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop and got to learn about how small businesses run.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ashlyn landed at Kimley-Horn, a large engineering firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did a lot of park design and helped with renderings, redlining, and stuff like that,\u201d said Ashlyn, who spent most of her time on-site projects in New Braunfels, Texas, with a group of 14 other interns, all of whom were engineering majors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI learned grit, how to be efficient, and that I don\u2019t have to be perfect and already know how to do everything,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Future plans<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With graduation on the horizon, neither sister has solidified her post-graduation plans, but they said they\u2019re excited about the many career possibilities they have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing how many avenues there are,\u201d said Mariah. \u201cYou can work on parking lots, zoos, national parks\u2026 you can design community centers or help out with disaster relief. There\u2019s so much you can do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They have grown individual interests within the discipline. Ashlyn said she prefers \u201cthe construction side of things,\u201d while Mariah enjoys designing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d really like to help smaller communities,\u201d said Ashlyn. \u201cWe come from a small town so I\u2019d like to help grow those cities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariah is considering working in an industry firm doing design work, teaching, or pursuing social media as a career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just want to make an impact wherever I go,\u201d Mariah said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After some professional experience, they eventually hope to go into business together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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