Step up on soapbox....
I will try to make this short, but sometimes when I get started....
I guess I just see things differently than most people, but don't most architects? I was brought up in upper middle class america, never really wanting for much. I had, when looking back, a great combination of parents, a very loving mother and a very hardass Dad. I learned from both. Dad has his bad points, but what I picked up were his strenghts. A very important one was self sufficiency. Mom taught me how to treat others.
In recent weeks I have read about the discouragement of the "millennials" not wanting to be "CAD monkeys" and I keep seeing on linkedin the debate about what you should call architectural graduates. It seems to me that apparently certain people don't appreciate the good things they have in life.
I never needed to worry about paying for my way through college, as my Dad made enough to send me. I struggled academically, but I was persistent. As I would drive from Roanoke, Va up to Blacksburg, Va (home of the Virginia Tech Hokies) we would take a short cut through the back woods to beat the traffic. We pass through the intersection of Ellett. I always remember thinking how fortunate I was that I could attend Va. Tech. I also was thinking that the next Einstein could be out working on the farm in Ellett Valley because his family could not afford to either send him to college, nor have him stop working on the farm. When I was in my fifth year, I had someone tell me to go over apply for student aid as it was easy to get. I told them why should I deprive someone who really needed that money from getting it because my Dad could afford to send me to college. I took a part time job my last year in college as a "Tape Dubber". I only worked one day a week and I took the job not for the money, but for my self esteem. I worked every summer to earn "spending money" when I was in college, but my Dad also sent me a little monthly allotment to supplement my needs. My friends had to earn all their money and got nothing from home. I felt inferior because I was not as self dependent as they seemed to be.
So now I read about these people complaining about how hard it is to become an architect. As stated in an earlier post, I don't have a problem with modifying the system, as there are things that don't make sense to me. I heard the anger and disdain about how they are disrespected and won't go through the archaic process. Then there is the constant, as of lately, topic of what to call architectural interns, like intern is now bad word?
Do people not realize how fortunate they are to be able to make a living in this profession? It seem like some are complaining about feeling that they are being treated like second class citizens or indentured servants doing their time until they can become one of the chosen few, The Architect. It not about titles, it is about the ability to provide a service to others and make this world a better place. Yes it is a business too and you better understand both architecture and business or you will not succeed at neither of them. I am pragmatic and ideological at the same time. I think all architects need to have a mix of both.
Come on, we are really having debates about what to call those who have graduated from college and not gotten licensed yet? Really?
I use to tell people I was an intern architect and I saw nothing wrong with that. I didn't feel any less useful or important. Titles don't mean squat anyway. I have seen guys who have been working in this industry for years work circles around "Licensed Architects". You judge a person by what he can do, not by what label he or she has! I realize society does treat people different because of title and the perception of what that title means, but in an office when it gets down to the nitty gritty, those titles go out the window and those who can produce rise to the top.
It drives me up the wall that it seems like some are complaining about doing the "grunt" work, but we all didn't like doing it.
I'm a cup half full type of guy. I am thankful for what I have and look forward to the challenge of achieving more down the road.
Thankful - It makes me more thankful for my life when I read about a tragedy of a young person losing their life. I have been so fortunate to have experience 58 year of both highs and low that a young person will be robbed of due to a fatal accident. We typically don't have total control of our lives, but we can direct it into certain directions. Life isn't fair so make the best of what you have.
I will try to make this short, but sometimes when I get started....
I guess I just see things differently than most people, but don't most architects? I was brought up in upper middle class america, never really wanting for much. I had, when looking back, a great combination of parents, a very loving mother and a very hardass Dad. I learned from both. Dad has his bad points, but what I picked up were his strenghts. A very important one was self sufficiency. Mom taught me how to treat others.
In recent weeks I have read about the discouragement of the "millennials" not wanting to be "CAD monkeys" and I keep seeing on linkedin the debate about what you should call architectural graduates. It seems to me that apparently certain people don't appreciate the good things they have in life.
I never needed to worry about paying for my way through college, as my Dad made enough to send me. I struggled academically, but I was persistent. As I would drive from Roanoke, Va up to Blacksburg, Va (home of the Virginia Tech Hokies) we would take a short cut through the back woods to beat the traffic. We pass through the intersection of Ellett. I always remember thinking how fortunate I was that I could attend Va. Tech. I also was thinking that the next Einstein could be out working on the farm in Ellett Valley because his family could not afford to either send him to college, nor have him stop working on the farm. When I was in my fifth year, I had someone tell me to go over apply for student aid as it was easy to get. I told them why should I deprive someone who really needed that money from getting it because my Dad could afford to send me to college. I took a part time job my last year in college as a "Tape Dubber". I only worked one day a week and I took the job not for the money, but for my self esteem. I worked every summer to earn "spending money" when I was in college, but my Dad also sent me a little monthly allotment to supplement my needs. My friends had to earn all their money and got nothing from home. I felt inferior because I was not as self dependent as they seemed to be.
So now I read about these people complaining about how hard it is to become an architect. As stated in an earlier post, I don't have a problem with modifying the system, as there are things that don't make sense to me. I heard the anger and disdain about how they are disrespected and won't go through the archaic process. Then there is the constant, as of lately, topic of what to call architectural interns, like intern is now bad word?
Do people not realize how fortunate they are to be able to make a living in this profession? It seem like some are complaining about feeling that they are being treated like second class citizens or indentured servants doing their time until they can become one of the chosen few, The Architect. It not about titles, it is about the ability to provide a service to others and make this world a better place. Yes it is a business too and you better understand both architecture and business or you will not succeed at neither of them. I am pragmatic and ideological at the same time. I think all architects need to have a mix of both.
Come on, we are really having debates about what to call those who have graduated from college and not gotten licensed yet? Really?
I use to tell people I was an intern architect and I saw nothing wrong with that. I didn't feel any less useful or important. Titles don't mean squat anyway. I have seen guys who have been working in this industry for years work circles around "Licensed Architects". You judge a person by what he can do, not by what label he or she has! I realize society does treat people different because of title and the perception of what that title means, but in an office when it gets down to the nitty gritty, those titles go out the window and those who can produce rise to the top.
It drives me up the wall that it seems like some are complaining about doing the "grunt" work, but we all didn't like doing it.
I'm a cup half full type of guy. I am thankful for what I have and look forward to the challenge of achieving more down the road.
Thankful - It makes me more thankful for my life when I read about a tragedy of a young person losing their life. I have been so fortunate to have experience 58 year of both highs and low that a young person will be robbed of due to a fatal accident. We typically don't have total control of our lives, but we can direct it into certain directions. Life isn't fair so make the best of what you have.
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