Hello! My name is Peter, this is my living portfolio/blog!

I was raised in Ashburn, Virginia by two public servants (an engineer and a teacher), along with my older brother and sister. Although it leaves out many people who I believe are pivotal to my story you could simply say I was raised by a community of people who taught me to care deeply about intellectual and artistic expression, the world and those who inhabit it, and making meaningful connections. As I continue to grow I have found myself wanting to document my growth, and so this website was born!

I received my Bachelor’s of Engineering in mechanical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in May of 2023, and am going to receive my Master’s of Engineering in Environmental Engineering in December of 2023. Throughout college I have developed my passion for sustainability, specifically, regenerative agriculture. I am hoping to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail after I complete my Master’s program, and then I am hoping to start a career in the sustainable agriculture industry.

Besides my academic interests I have become quite passionate about artistic expression. I love to write poetry and short stories, and I am trying to branch out into other mediums like wood working and horticulture. I also love to consume art in all forms from paint and music to oration and the beauty of slow artisanal work. The themes that I write about and enjoy engaging with most have a lot of overlap with my academic training and personal upbringing. I adore the romantic literature tradition, and I have a special soft spot for speculative fiction.

At the moment, I believe that a quote from Murray Bookchin can best summarize my philosophy regarding art, academia, and purpose: “Being is becoming.” I hold no illusions that the way I have described myself in these words will be how I am for eternity, and actually, I believe that the only semblance of a universal ethic is this sentiment that the universe and everything in it is ‘meant’ to just keep changing. If we can believe we have any agency in that change I would argue that we ought to try to change for the better, and so that is what I am doing!