As soon as I wrangle that expensive piece of paper from B. Glassy’s finger’s I’m getting into my truck and burning rubber, hell bent for adventure. Yeehaw.
Fast forward five years. I’m bald, wearing glasses, and hunched over a drafting table, my hands, covered in graphite, tremble from the five cups of coffee I’ve consumed since dinner. It’s 3am and my final studio critique is tomorrow. This is me in grad school, pouring my mind, body and soul into the pursuit of architecture.
In an alternate universe I’d be jumping out of a UN helicopter clutching a briefcase whose contents, in the right hands (read: mine own), mean peace and prosperity for millions of underprivileged souls.
Forgive me, y’all know my tendency to wax poetic.
The truth is, I’ve been using architecture as my carrot for a while now; long enough that it’s difficult, but not impossible, to imagine myself doing anything else. I’d like to believe I’m open to most anything, but I think it’s important to hold onto something that I feel is worth working towards. The prospect of becoming an architect, equal parts student and shaper of the built environment, tickles my fancy more than any other job that comes easily to mind. In order to become an architect the first thing I’ll need is a masters degree. Most masters programs in architecture are 3 years long, and the best ones are on the coasts of our great nation. In 5 years I would love to be in one of these grad programs.
To gain entrance into such a program, I’ll have to develop both my portfolio and my resume. I plan on taking anywhere from 1-5 years to do so, all the while having adventures and doing things a stable career (not that those of most architects ever are) might not easily allow for, such as raft guiding and backpacking around the world, being a Safari guide in Tanzania, joining the Peace Corps, doing a Fulbright, etc. I hope to continue working for architects throughout the US and even abroad to build my resume. I’d also like to make furniture, keep making pottery and sculpture, keep taking photos, learn photoshop, and keep working with several computer-aided design programs to contribute to my portfolio. I would love to get a job building custom homes, intern/work for a company such as Wheelhaus, or work for some organization concerned with improving and thinking about the built environment in any capacity.
Most importantly, in 5 years I hope to have a load of life experience under my belt, stories to share, and a strong network of friends and family to share them with. Furthermore, in 5 years I hope to have a more solid understanding of what I want to do with the rest of my life (or at least the next step), the ability, energy and motivation to do it, and people to support me in doing so.
Back to the near future: after the cloud of smoke clears and the smell of burning tires leaves the air, you’ll see me driving into the sunset, waving my diploma in the summer air. I’ll be heading to the olde, Wild West that is Jackson, Wyoming (even though that’s east of here!), where I’ll likely be swinging a hammer, riding bulls, running from bear and moose, and floating rivers all summer long, all while wearing nothing but cowboy boots. The plan is to build a barn, finish the house that has been under construction since last summer, and build a <200 square foot warming hut/mini-cabin of my own design on my girlfriend’s dad’s property out in the Tetons. I also plan on studying for the GRE which I hope to take in the fall.
Before all this silliness about sunsets and epic burn-outs, there’s talk of doing a certain research project with a certain professor (ehem) in my home state of Jefferson.
In conclusion, here’s to staying open to and excited for whatever the future holds!