Hello Everyone,

Well what can I say...I have been missing in action. I have not written in a while. I had to make a conscious decision during the semester as to whether I wanted to write about failing out of University or about my 4.0GPA. So evidently I chose the later.

It was an incredible hectic semester, and I made it through. Our final design presentation was held in Jacksonville Florida. A lot of sleepless nights went into it and a bunch of frozen dinners...but we all made it. I cut back on some of the work to have better quality. We were supposed to build a final model and an architectural detail model. I abandoned the latter and focused on doing a really good final model. It paid off in the end, as I won the second prize for my design of an Aquarium. Earlier in the semester we had visited two aquariums, Atlanta GA the new aquarium and the Tennessee Aquarium to help build our knowledge on Aquarium design. They were both really interesting in their own way.

All my classmates were relieved that the semester was over. We had gotten started on selecting our thesis topics and wrote part of the thesis intro. This was to be our next years mission. The second year of the Master of Architecture degree is mostly dedicated to writing and doing research for the thesis. In the end, whether you graduate or not comes down to whether you successfully defend your thesis.

We used any spare moments to watch the presentations \(thesis defences\) of the class before us. After some it was evident that they were gonna graduate...others needed a bit more work. I don't think many people appreciate what architecture students go through in their 5-6 years of education. Most people claim that all other majors are just as hard. I would give some a similar standing, but others are less demanding.When I see some other Graduate students liming and relaxing, partying etc....I wonder! Most architecture students spend 28 hours a day in the design studio working. Yeah I know you think there are 24 hours in the day...but it certainly feels like more. To an architecture student...sleep is but a concept, and so is time. Every studio is packed with small refrigerators,microwaves, coffee machines, blankets, pillows, makeshift beds etc. So many night I visitedmy dorm and apartment just to shower and return to studio. My house mates don't seeme in days and weeks.

So most people might think...ok I did the 5 years of Architecture for my Professional BArch degree or the 4+2=6 years for my Master of Architecture degree so now you are an architect. WRONG!!!! Absolutely not!

Then you have to work in an architecture firm with architects registered in the state you are practising in for a total of 5600 hours \(140 weeks @ 40 hrs a week or 1880 hours \(47 weeks\) depending on whether you did the BArch or MArch degree. The job experience has to be recorded and ranges from the initial schematic and pre-design  stages to contract administration etc, with each of the sections requiring a certain amount of hours of experience.

Is that it?...you might ask. Not yet! Then you have to take 9 exams at a cost of approx. $120 USD each and pay to get a registration number with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards between $285-600 USD. Usually it might take about a year to complete all exams if you study hard and don't fail any. But do not forget as an architecture intern you are now balancing a job where you have to prove yourself working anywhere between 40-80 plus hours a week as the projects might demand. So despite dedication by some...many never are able to complete all the exams and as such are never able to register and practice as architects. What does it take to be an architect? Extreme dedication and a passion like none other. You absolutely have to love it. The first year architecture classes are usually very large, but they turn out to be a case of survival of the fittest. Maybe from 40-80 first year undergraduate students to my graduate class which has 11 people.

Can you imagine after all that when you tell someone you are an architecture major they break it down to a menial task and say "Oh you like to draw! I have a cousin who draws plans too." Architecture is not about drawing plans, it is about the art and science of design, creation, innovation, technology etc. I began my journey as a draughtsman, and I was never happy just drawing someone else's design or coming up with the rectangular shaped house. I wanted more. I wanted to know how the Empire State building was constructed, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Hagia Sophia. I wanted to be able to stand proud and know I designed buildings like the Hall of Justice, the Queen's Park Oval, the National Stadium etc. I give props to draughtsmen and women you help fulfil the design concept and do the construction drawing that bring them to reality. I know many great people who have been working on these buildings for years and I am proud to be a part of this great field. So now that I am half way along my journey I feel proud and excited.

Next time you walk into a building...think about how it was designed and think about how it makes you feel. Some buildings make you feel trapped while others make you excited and want to return just to look around. Think about the public library in Port-of-Spain. Go into the atrium and look up at the skylight. Do you think this is all by chance? No! It was designed to let light in....