簡介
Introduction
我叫陳星凱。我出生到現在一直都在台北市生活。我的父親從小在九份長大。家庭不是很富裕。透過不斷的努力，他當上了科技公司的總經理。母親是一位全職的家庭主婦。我有一個雙胞胎哥哥，目前在康橋國際學校就讀高一。我有兩個姊姊。大姊目前在美國加州大學爾灣分校就讀大四，主修經濟。二姊目前是文化大學金融系的學生。
我小學一至三年級就讀私立新民國民小學。小學一年級時我當過班上的模範生。三年級下學期我轉學到康橋雙語學校小學部。小學五年級時我當過班上的模範生。到了國中，我繼續就讀康橋，並且到了國際部。國際部的課程規劃跟美國加州是一樣的。我們都是用美國原文書來上課。老師都是外國人，課堂也必須用英文溝通。國一時我當選為班級模範生。我在班上熱心助人，常常成為班上的楷模。我也連任了多屆的班上學藝股長。目前我繼續讀康橋，就讀康橋國際學校的高一。
康橋有一系列活動是全台灣其他學校沒有的，那就是菁英活動。小學六年級畢業前必須爬上雪山拿畢業證書。國中二年級上學期時必須挑戰爬嘉明湖、三叉山和向陽山。國二下學期必須泳渡日月潭。國三要中橫健行。國中畢業旅行全國三生都去了中國和泰國，在12天的畢業行中了解當地文化。高一要騎單車環繞台灣。這些活動我都有參加。菁英活動讓我了解到許多課本學習不到的生命道理，讓我的視野變得更廣，也讓我的體能更精進。
從我小時候開始我就對"建築"開始有興趣。還記得小學五年級時風靡的”Minecraft 我的創世神"，我總是很喜歡蓋各種房子。當時正在讀國小的我，對於剛完成的世界最高樓"哈里發塔"和世界各地的各個高樓充滿著興趣。國小五六年級開始，我開始在Minecraft興建自己的"大都市"。儘管許多人認為Minecraft只是一款遊戲而已，但是我認為Minecraft能發揮玩家的想像力，也能夠為設計建築打了基礎。
上了國中，興趣從高樓延伸到了各式各樣的建築。七年級開始幾乎天天都會上"台灣城市論壇"去了解台灣關於城市發展的新聞和專題，跟著和我有相同嗜好的專業人士一起討論議題。我時常會去"台北市環境保護局"和"新北市環境保護局"的網站去查詢新建中的建案的各種詳細資料。甚至我會利用從環評資料中取得的"平面圖"和"立面圖"把建築蓋在Minecraft裡面。
不只是我對於建築的興趣和我對建築的專業知識，我的藝術天分也有幫助我走往"建築師"的路上。我從小就喜歡畫畫，也認為藝術應該會是我一生中一個重要元件。從小學一年級開始，我平時就會畫畫。小學二年級時參加扶輪社辦得電腦繪圖比賽，我榮獲第二名。從小學三年級開始，我就會開始自行畫簡單的小漫畫。小學時期，我參與的社團大部分也都是關於藝術相關的。上了國中，我得到了”104學年度新北市學生美術比賽 東區平面設計類 國中普通班組 第三名” 、”康橋雙語學校 中學圖書館第六屆藏書票設計比賽 國中組佳作獎”和”新北市105年度第22屆國際藏書票比賽 佳作”。上了高中，我進了" Portfolio Art”班，讓我能夠進一步增強自己繪圖能力。
除了建築和藝術，我也在音樂方面也有成就。康橋有一門課程就做一人一才藝，意思是每個人都要選一個樂器。而我選的樂器是”低音提琴”。我學了低音提琴三年，並且參加學校的管弦樂團。我跟著樂團的團員們參加了學校一年一度的藝文公演及花蓮公演。到九年級時我轉到學校的絲竹樂團，並且代表學校去參加比賽，榮獲了”104學年度全國學生音樂比賽 絲竹室內樂合奏 高中職團體B組 優等”的佳績。
我對於建築的興趣從我小學時就被發掘，因此我也趁自己的閒暇之餘上網查關於建築的各種資料。再加上我還有被肯定的藝術天分。因此，我希望我能依照我的專長和興趣，在大學的時候就讀建築系。近程方面，我希望能夠進入美國加州建築系排行前幾名的大學，並在讀完大學以後在美國工作個一年，再回台灣，為台灣的建設做一番努力。
我希望大學畢業以後先去考幾個專業建築師的證照，並且成為一個傑出的建築師。
My name is Kevin Chen. I have lived in Taipei since I was born. My father had lived in Juifen before he turned to an adult. Through unceasing hard work, he was successfully promoted to be the managing director of the company. My mom is a housewife. I have a twin brother, Michael. He is now a tenth grader in Kang Chiao International School. I have two sisters. Tiffany is the older than Lily. Tiffany is currently studying economy at the University of California, Irvine. She is now a third-year student. Lily is currently studying finance at Chinese Culture University.
I studied at Xinmin Private Elementary School through grade one to grade three. I was elected as the model student of the class in grade one. I transferred to Kang Chiao Bilingual School in the second semester of grade three. I was elected as the model student of the class in grade five. When I graduated from the elementary school, I continued studying at Kang Chiao Bilingual School International Department. The curriculum of the international department is same as the curriculum of the schools in California. I was elected as the model student of the class in grade seven. I am a warming and obliging student, so I am often seen as the model of the class. I am now a tenth grader in Kang Chiao International School.
Kang Chiao has a series of activities that most schools in Taiwan don’t have, which is “Exploring Taiwan Program”. There are several activities under this program, which includes climbing up to the top of the Xue Mountain, which is the second highest mountain in Taiwan, to get the diplomas before graduating from the elementary school, climbing up to the Jiaming Lake, which is the second highest lake area in Taiwan in grade eight, swimming across Sun Moon Lake, the biggest lake in Taiwan, in grade eight, hiking across the central Taiwan in grade nine, attending the 12-days Cultural Exchange Program in China and Thailand in the summer of grade nine, and cycling around Taiwan in grade ten. This program enables me to strengthen my stamina, broaden my view, enrich my knowledge, and learn things that are not taught in the textbooks.
I have been interested in “architecture” since I was a kid. I can still remember playing Minecraft in fifth grade, which was very popular at that time. I loved buildings architectures with unique styles. Even though many people think that Minecraft is just a game, but I believe that Minecraft enables players to stir up the creativity, and I believe that Minecraft can lay the foundation of the knowledge of architecture for the students.
I often go online to search news and information about the buildings, especially skyscrapers. I also use the drawing elevation and plan of the buildings to build those architectures inside Minecraft.
Not only my interest in architecture and my understanding of the architecture but also my talent in art helps to pave my way to an architect. I have loved drawing since I was small. I think that art will be an essential element throughout my life. I got second place in a digital drawing contest when I was a second grader. I started drawing comics when I was in third grade. During my elementary years, I mostly attended clubs that were related to art. I attended New Taipei City Art Competition, and I got third place in graphic design. I got the third prize in Exlibris Design Contest in my school. I got “Excellent Work” in New Taipei City International Exlibris Competition. I attend “Portfolio Art Class” in high school to enhance my drawing skill.
I also have achievements and interest in another area beside architecture and art, which is music. There is a program in Kang Chiao that every student needs to choose one musical instrument to learn. I chose to learn double bass. I had learned double bass for three years, and I joined school’s orchestra. I attended many shows outside the school with the orchestra. I transferred to Chinese Chamber Orchestra in ninth grade. I attended 2016 National Student Music Competition on behalf of our school’s Chinese Chamber Orchestra, and we received the rank of “Excellent” in the Senior B division of Chinese Chamber Orchestra.
In the future, according to my interest and my professional specialty in architecture and art, I hope I can go to University of California, Los Angeles to study architecture. After graduating from the university, I hope I can work in the States for one year and come back to Taiwan to contribute myself into Taiwanese building industry.