AIA, NCARB, WELL AP
It feels like yesterday, but it was decades ago. I was in the 5th grade, we had “Future Fridays” in which a visitor would come in and talk to us about different careers. Usually, I would draw straight through these things. I had my trusty notebook bursting with drawings. On this day one of my classmate’s fathers came in with a stack of presentation boards. As he set them up I realized he liked to draw pictures just like me. I felt like the world slowed down and everything got quiet, all I could focus on was his presentation boards.
It was 1990, and Vegas as we know it now was about to burst into existence. It was at the precipice of sprawling. Just before the “family friendly” version would emerge. Up until that day I was busy growing up in the outskirts of Las Vegas. We lived in a neighborhood that was surrounded with dirt roads and one paved road leading to the highway. My family had horses, dogs and chickens and for a while, a few times, a goat. After school chores and homework there was plenty of time to ride my horse and draw, my two favorite things to do. Sometimes I would draw while riding my horse. My only sibling was 7 years older than I, and had no interest in playing with me. I had plenty of time to daydream and draw. I often wondered how it would feel to live as a different family would. I often imagined what a house would need if my family had different interests. I would come up with a family and their list of needs and interests and draw a home for that family based on the program requirements.
Flash back to 5th grade Future Friday’s and he began by asking if we knew what an architect was or what they did. At one point he asked if anyone had ever drawn anything like what he was showing us. I did not raise my hand. My eyes were big and I could feel my cheeks burn. I was too shy to share in front of my entire class. After his presentation was over I went up to him and handed him my notebook. It was filled from cover to cover. They were not the standard drawings of a 5th grade girl. He flipped it open and was blown away. I had over 50 designs for single family homes. Program, site plan, floor plan, elevations, and a perspective of my favorite design element. In that order. Over and over.
He and I talked for a few minutes. He let me know how proud or myself I should be and was very supportive of my drawing habits. He told me to get good grades and to study hard. He flipped a switch in my head about learning, it became something I wanted to do so I can get to architecture school. He invited me to read some books and asked me to never give up on my passion for drawing. For me this was the day I started my architecture career. His words of encouragement and instant belief I would be an architect carried me through many moments of doubt from others, and myself.
After that day I knew what I was going to be. I was sworn in 25 years later and still have gratitude for his kindness and support.
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