Hello world!
Today is a new day!! I have been working for one week!
I initiated an internship with a local firm that is particularly successful in my tiny hometown. I worked for them 2 days per week for the duration of a month. During that time I also volunteered once weekly with my local Habitat for Humanity and somehow got "commissioned" by an entrepreneur to draft up a few as-built plans.
Now a funny story: I walked into work last Friday and found the head architect telling me that my volunteering is not fair to me, and they don't have a position for me, and they don't need an architect. They need a quick drafter. They said "You don't need to be coming in anymore." I said, "OK, I understand. I am very grateful for the time I've had here, and I thank you. If you don't mind I will just stay till the end of the day."
They gave me a drawing, and I returned the finished AutoCAD file. They said, "That was quick." They said, "Step into this office." They said "Why don't you work for us part time until we find someone more suited to the position?"
And I said "Yes."
So, now I get paid for the little things I know, and I learn a lot about all the things I don't know. And I'm getting much faster on the AutoCAD. Sometimes I feel frustrated because I don't always see eye-to-eye with them on what the definition of good design is.
This is all quite temporary, so I'm trying to keep my eyes and cover letters peeled. Even though I'm paid, I feel I've taken a step off the dream road. But I really hope it is just one step forward, and not a mis-step.
Here are my Unemployment Lessons:
1. Enjoy unemployment as much as possible. Try to accomplish all those crazy things you've always dreamed of doing. Narrow down your goals and go one at a time.
2. Hardwork and perseverance are critical. No one who stops trudging forward (no matter how difficult the road is) can discover their success.
3.Whining and complaining are best kept silent. Replace with thanksgiving and endurance.
4. If everyone in the world could be put under your unique circumstances, many of them would be in the same place as you or better. People under seemingly worse circumstances can still surpass you.
5. "Don't waste your time trying to live someone else's life. Trust that everything will work together for good." -Steve Jobs ( but also the Bible, probably???)
6. No matter how great your education was, failure is still possible. All you have to do is give up (see 1.).
7. Never give up!
8. Sometimes good business results in poor architecture.
9. Everyone keeps their hand over their wallet.
10. Give of yourself freely. Be generous in giving time, love, attention, and sincere compliments to others.
11. Friendships are like bank accounts. The more you deposit, the more happily the person allows you to withdraw.
12. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift, that is why it is called "the present."
13. You cannot surprise God. He has a plan and knows all the little details of every moment in your life. "God will never say 'Woah! Did she really just do that?'"--Max Lucado
Here is my simplified design philosophy:
1. Form follows function follows form follows... Design is a circular process.
2. The inside must develop from the outside (site informs design). The outside develops from the inside (interior and exterior have a perfect relationship ( ok, ok you guys can fight sometimes! but make sure it's pretty!)).
3. At the heart of every great building is a great idea.
And another list of goals. I do love my lists of goals, but this time more long term:
1. Promote good design and Educate the general public/future clients about design and architecture.
2. Create real, built design of an excellent quality.
3. Make good design economical and affordable. Where good design = environmentally conscious + socially conscious + functional + aesthetic + innovative + compelling/ thought-provoking.
4. Make the world a better place one building at a time.
I know I'm technically employed now, but this is such fun! I think I will start blogging on architecture. Start educating people! :-P
