My
all time favorite poem, since I was 13 when I first came across it in my high
school library, that I want tattooed in flowy cursive across my ribs, that I
recited at my undergrad entry interview, that I think of and draw strength from
when times are hard and the struggle doesn’t seem worth the effort, is a Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow. (This poem deserves its own post and since this one is going to be
a long one, I’m leaving that for another day.)
Today
this verse is resonating through my mind in particular;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
As
the deadline for the competition draws closer and my nerves get wound tighter
and tighter and the 24 hours a day don’t seem nearly enough… I fantasize about
giving up. What’s the worst that can happen I ask myself? So my resume won’t
have that stellar item of being a finalist in a nationwide competition. Lots of
other people won’t have it too…
I
know though that I would never ever forgive myself if I didn’t even try. I
would keep tormenting myself with what if
thoughts…convinced that if only I had stuck it out I would have won! And we all
know that is a fake way to live.
So
I drew upon my ever-comforting wise poem and went looking for some footprints
in the sands of time to take heart from and that’s how I landed on Life of an Architect blog. Below in its entirety is an article that I couldn’t have
read at a better time because it’s exactly what the doctor (poet?) ordered. I
highlighted my favorite bits. Thoughts in brackets are mine.
Within
the last few months, the number of emails I have received from people asking
whether or not they should get out of architecture has been staggering. Equally
surprising are the emails I receive that ask for direction on whether or not
they should go into the field of architecture. The answer to both questions is
easy:
Maybe?
For
some people, the first question I ask them – the ender question, is always the
same:
“Why do you want to be an architect?”
(My answer to this has never
changed. I think I was about 10 to 12 years old, watching DWTV in those off-peaks hours when the local stations streamed it
in lieu of scheduled programming and would gaze spellbound at the screen as one
exotic building after another was showcased. Sometimes they would interview the
geniuses behind the structures, these architects, these demi-gods. I wanted
that. I wanted to create. And I knew I would be good at it. I was great at art
– sketching, painting, crafting, calligraphy, mosaics…name it, and I could do
it. I loved technology. My father is a flight engineer and a gadget junkie and
I was daddy’s girl, I knew way more about the latest advancements in the field
than the average teenager in the 3rd world. So the fact that there
was a profession that could combine my two loves and strengths, and throw in a
way to achieve my quest for pseudo-immortality to boot, I was sold! *side
bar – my other plan to achieve pseudo immortality is to write.*)
If the
answer is I have always wanted to be an architect, I move on to the next few
questions. A person’s motivation for becoming an architect is singularly
important. I went to college to become an architect while my friends simply
went to college. My resolve and dedication towards becoming an architect was
tempered by many all-nighters, 207 credit hours (187 required for my degree),
and no fraternity for me – nobody who graduated from the University of Texas
School of Architecture the same time as I did was in a fraternity (or sorority)
– you just didn’t have the time.
It was
hard to get to where I am at right now and the people who were doing it because
they thought it would be cool, for the money, or some other reason other than
‘I have always wanted to be an architect” didn’t make it. If there is something
else out there calling to you, architecture probably isn’t for you. I haven’t
regretted my decision ever.
Ever.
(Lucky
guy. What I wouldn’t give for this conviction. Although regret isn’t exactly
how I describe my sentiments towards my profession…it is more of
disillusionment…a “this is it?” moment. Note the “?” instead of the “!”. I have
such grand Technicolor dreams! And reality is more of a sepia tone…all I want
is that tornado to take me from this Kansas of Ugandan Architecture to the land
of Oz!)
Sure,
there have been loads of times when I wished I didn’t work as much as I do,
made more money; I even get tired of the ladies who are “architect groupies ”
following me around. It’s tough but I have always wanted to be an architect.
This
is a portion from an email I recently received which actually got me thinking
about this post. The person who sent this loves to design and thinks about it
all the time … it’s how she spends her free time, she travels to locations, she
studies buildings, she even tracks down the designers in these locations and
goes and meets them. In her words:
I really love this stuff, but know that I might have problems
working for clients. I can see my temperament not quite matching up with that
process. I’m a bit stubborn. And also impatient.
It’s hard, I always wanted to be an artist, and now I can’t figure
out how to be a designer.
The
traits that she describes won’t keep her from becoming an architect or designer
– in fact, I would also suggest that these are important traits that any
successful designer should have. Also, if her stubbornness and impatience are
so uncontrollable as to be a real problem, she’ll have issues in any profession
other than ‘Hermit’. In my response email to her, I included a list of quality
architecture programs near her and should she decide to pursue a Master’s
degree in architecture, I think she’ll do really well.
As to
the emails that are asking if they should get out out of architecture –
that one is more difficult to address. Architects aren’t the only professionals
that are suffering right now. In my mind, it’s similar to changing jobs because
you don’t like someone where you are working – not a real good reason if it’s
the only one because you probably won’t like someone at the next job either.
I
still like to try and find out why a person who has gone through the process to
become an architect is thinking about leaving. Have your motivations for being
an architect changed? Is it circumstantial? Maybe it’s simply that you want to
make more money or you simply hate the job that you currently have. I can
appreciate why someone would like to make more money but are you worth more
money doing what you currently do? For example, in my circumstance I am well
paid for a 10 person residential firm considering my name isn’t on the front
door. If I wanted to be paid more, my first couple of possible moves would
involve looking at larger firms or more commercially focused production firms,
not becoming a lawyer. For me, it would be about trying to find a balance and
still continue practicing architecture, not changing professions.
(Those two paragraphs right
there hit the right dosage for my ailment. Architecture is my dream! These
other issues are just that, issues. There’s no guarantee whichever profession I
will wind up in won’t have the same issues. So. Back in the saddle it is!)
I’ve
always been pretty good at shooting the bull and have been told I would have
been awesome at sales. The very idea of selling anything just to be selling
anything would literally make me shrivel up and die. To my way of thinking, I
would be better served by investing ALL of my time and resources into winning
the lottery before selling paper or plastic o-rings. While both would probably
ruin me and force me into living in a cardboard refrigerator box in some alley,
going into sales would probably add “crazy” and “pavement licker” to my resume.
When
trying to select an appropriate image for this post, my mind started wandering
a bit and it landed on John Picacio. John and I went to architecture
achool together and we both spent time in Europe traveling together in 1990.
John and I were never all that close but even 20 years later I can still
remember John’s sketches; they were ridiculously good. I still see one sketch
in particular in my mind’s eye. John and I were in Siena, Italy, and John was
drawing the Piazza del Campo. He was using the white of the paper as much as
his sketch pen to bring the buildings to life and it was simply amazing to see.
We lost touch after awhile but I always thought he was so good at drawing, why
would he be an architect? Apparently John came to the same conclusion and is
now an internationally recognized and award winning illustrator.
And I
say good for him.
John
could always draw better than the people who taught our drawing classes and he
figured out that this was something he would rather do than pursue a career in
architecture. I’d say it’s worked out pretty well for him. So if you’re
interested in becoming an architect because it’s all you’ve ever wanted to do
than I would heartily urge you to continue on towards your goal. If you want to
become an architect for the groupies, money and fast cars, you might want to
reevaluate your options. I’m not suggesting that it can only be one or the
other but if you’re already unsure … you’ve got some difficult roads to travel
in front of you.
What
would you say to someone contemplating a change? Things will get better but
will it be worth sticking around? Doctor’s are starting to run into problems
but we’ll always need them. Lawyer’s have their issues too, but unlike
architects who are working themselves towards irrelevancy, (He lost me at this point. How are
we working ourselves towards irrelevancy?) at least Lawyer’s make it so we can’t get rid of
them. Architecture defines me and I wouldn’t like to envision myself doing
something else – but what about the people who don’t know? What would you tell
them?
The
comments though, while all polite and everything, were less encouraging. Other
than stararchitects, the rest of us seem to be battling serious inner demons
and social/monetary shortcomings at every turn! To read the comments, go over
to the original article here.
