Why Architecture?

When applying to different schools of Architecture, it was interesting to see what each school asked? Some asked many questions, some asked a few, but every single one asked the same question: Why Architecture?

As far back as I can remember, Architecture has always played a large role in my life. My father is an Architect and getting to see what he did everyday and his passion for it really got me interested. Being an Architect gave him the ability to work straight out of the house in his home office, so I was able to witness firsthand what it’s like to be one. He always talked about how much he loves his job, and how when you do something you love, it doesn’t feel like work anymore.

One thing that really pushed me into the direction of Architecture was LEGO’s. As a little kid I loved LEGO’s. The ability to lay the blocks out in front of you and just design whatever you wanted was amazing. It reinforced my love for design.

I’ve always seemed to have the mind of an Architect. I love creativity, and at the same time I’m also very intrigued with structures and Engineering. In my opinion, Architecture has the perfect blend of creativity and structure to it. Having only one would make me miss the other. If I were to take up Engineering, I’d be losing the ability to make my own designs. And if I were to take a more artistic approach, I would be losing the math portion that I’ve enjoyed my whole life. With Architecture, I get both.

Walking around I’m always noticing things about buildings. Normally people just look at a few buildings and are amazed by it’s size or detail. But what I like to look at are its interactions, whether it’s with the people who are using the space or the environment around it. I like trying to figure out what the Architects meaning behind certain design elements are. I like getting into the deeper meanings of the Architect’s intentions.

I took Architecture classes in high school, and up until that point I was unsure how much I would truly like getting an education in Architecture. But I soon realized after two years of classes that I still loved it and couldn’t wait to do more. I was introduced to building models, drafting, and CAD. It all made it clear what I wanted to pursue in life.

My brother and father both told me that Architecture school is tough. I can tell you after taking one semester of Architecture, it surely isn’t easy. After pulling multiple all-nighters throughout the semester, staying up for 75 hours straight one time, getting a lovely average of 4 hours of sleep a night, I realized that Architecture is indeed time-consuming. But, even though it might not be the healthiest thing in the world, I still love it.

Some people complained. They would say, “Why do we get so much work,” and, “I don’t want to do ALL of this.” And as people complain and moan, I just smile and think back to what my father told me, “If you truly love Architecture, then you won’t mind the late nights and no sleep.” He was right, no amount of all-nighters are going to convince me to stop doing what I love. And I can’t wait to be doing Architecture for the rest of my life.