I graduated architecture at UACEG. Often, when asked what I do, I do not say that I am an architect, but that I have graduated in architecture. It sounds arrogant and arrogant given that I have not designed any building or interior even. In fact, an architect can deal with a wide range of activities, all related to buildings and construction and all necessary, can not only build a new one. But all education teaches you how to design from scratch. If a young professional has not gone through this process, has not realized even the smallest project, in my opinion, it will be difficult to be adequate in many other segments of architecture. Probably the first and most important question related to the topic will be: why did I choose architecture The truth is that I never dreamed of being an architect. I have never planned to graduate from this university before and I have never seen myself as an architect. At school I was engaged in painting. I had no vision for my future at all, I didn't think about what I would live on, I was just the strongest in painting and I didn't allow another profession. But my family and some close people advised me to choose architecture. No one supported me in my artistic endeavors. And not because I lacked abilities, on the contrary. All the people I knew told me that it was better to have a safe and sought-after profession. Obviously, this is quite true, although at that time it was not so obvious to my adolescent mind. Little by little, the suggestions changed my mind, I started training and, for better or worse, I was accepted into the prestigious specialty. I started at university with enthusiasm and diligence, which decreased as the semesters progressed. I dare say that the education in the specialty "Architecture", in my opinion, has some shortcomings. They bombard with a variety of disciplines and projects, many of which seem self-serving at first glance. I think it is better not to give specific examples, because this will become a separate topic, quite a long one in itself. And most importantly, the design of buildings, no one teaches you that. They put an A4 sheet of paper with an assignment on the table in front of you and tell you, “Come on, my boy, design! "The student is expected to learn on his own. The other is that evaluation is very subjective and unmotivating. In some subjects I had hardly attended lectures or even transcribed on the exam and received an excellent grade. In other disciplines and projects, although I put a lot of work and effort, at the end of the semester I was "cut". The various architects who lead the exercises shake their heads cleverly: It's good, it's going well; finally - a good 4. Which is a bad grade. This vague and distorted assessment discouraged me, made me lose even the little interest I had. At one point, I began to move things by inertia, enough to pass. I feel somewhat deceived by the university. Let this not sound like an excuse. Maybe if there was adequate assessment and screening of students with low success and low motivation, I would be in the second or third year I would be faced with the question of whether this is for me. Should I increase my efforts or give up and choose a new goal. However, this is the responsibility of the university, not the student. A responsibility that the school does not take. I am far from shifting all the blame for my dissatisfaction outside of myself. As I mentioned at the beginning, because I had no ambition to become an architect, I took only the information and training that was offered to me, and that was not enough. Let me mention a few words about my practice. What can I design right now? Some family house, apartment block. All residential buildings, mostly because they live in one. Can I design a more complex building - a hotel, an office building, a factory, a town planning? No. Practice in architecture and gaining experience becomes very slow and difficult. Projects take months or even years to develop. And in order to be good, one has to work on real projects. While I was still at university, I worked for a small design company. They only needed a draftsman and I didn't have the opportunity to engage in even minimal design work. The worst thing was that two or three cases I tried to discuss a detail, but these people cut me off quite rudely so as not to interfere. OK fine. They keep their craft. But I have to ask myself, what is my use? By comparison, the office I work in is shared by another design firm, and I see that more experienced architects help a few students work with advice or guidance. Why wasn't that the case with me? I just wasn't lucky enough to find a company. After that I worked for a while in a municipality. The conditions and attitude were at a very low level. The municipality was small, Shurobadzhanism was spreading; many administrative procedures were done formally without requiring competent intervention and decisions. Relationships with other employees were very unpleasant - envy, slander, slander. After a few months, I realized that the chief architect was making me do mostly technical work - typing something on the computer, stamping various folders. I once told the head of the directorate that I was trying to learn from work. Soon after, in a very suspicious way, the chief architect began to receive citizens in another office (and we worked in the same office), and he began to make me leave the room. What does this mean? He seems to have been warned of my development ambitions and has begun to limit me as much as he can. And he, as my immediate superior, can do enough. It came to a point where I was forced to leave. Again, I can give a comparison: known from another, a larger municipality that went through a senior expert in four years and became a chief expert. And there were people in my community who had been "juniors" for fifteen years. It is obvious that the work environment is important and has a significant impact on a young person who is just starting out as a professional. I want to point out that I never expected anyone to sit down and train me specifically. But in this case it turns out that there are efforts and efforts to hinder me, which is already an ugly picture and a clear signal that there is no place for me. As I see it, the architect is a technical person. Its role is to achieve quantitative parameters desired by the investor; to comply with laws and regulations in construction. In our country, architecture is not well paid if the worker is at the lowest level as a draftsman. Even if you are a designer, the architectural companies in our country are small and you will stay with someone's salary forever. It seems to me that my hairdresser earns more than me, looking at what her prices are and how much she works. Let him win, but when I make this comparison, I just feel more miserable. After about six years at university and almost ten years of work experience, I feel like a person without a profession. My education is insufficient, my experience is superficial. I want to decide if architecture is for me, does it make sense to strive for any development? I wonder if, based on this past, I can have any hope for a future in architecture or give up altogether. I will be happy to hear opinions, although it was important for me to pour all this, because for some time now this balance has been burdening me. that my hairdresser earns more than me by looking at what her prices are and how much she works. Let him win, but when I make this comparison, I just feel more pathetic. After about six years at university and almost ten years of work experience, I feel like a person without a profession. My education is insufficient, my experience is superficial. I want to decide if architecture is for me, does it make sense to strive for any development? I wonder if, based on this past, I can have any hope for a future in architecture or give up altogether. I will be happy to hear opinions, although it was important for me to pour all this, because for some time now this balance has been burdening me. that my hairdresser earns more than me by looking at what her prices are and how much she works. Let him win, but when I make this comparison, I just feel more pathetic. After about six years at university and almost ten years of work experience, I feel like a person without a profession. My education is insufficient, my experience is superficial. I want to decide if architecture is for me, does it make sense to strive for any development? I wonder if, based on this past, I can have any hope for a future in architecture or give up altogether. I will be happy to hear opinions, although it was important for me to pour all this, because for some time now this balance has been burdening me. After about six years at university and almost ten years of work experience, I feel like a person without a profession. My education is insufficient, my experience is superficial. I want to decide if architecture is for me, does it make sense to strive for any development? I wonder if, based on this past, I can have any hope for a future in architecture or give up altogether. I will be happy to hear opinions, although it was important for me to pour all this, because for some time now this balance has been burdening me. After about six years at university and almost ten years of work experience, I feel like a person without a profession. My education is insufficient, my experience is superficial. I want to decide if architecture is for me, does it make sense to strive for any development? I wonder if, based on this past, I can have any hope for a future in architecture or give up altogether. I will be happy to hear opinions, although it was important for me to pour all this, because for some time now this balance has been burdening me.
1 yessicahot1 answered
In my opinion, as soon as you reach these conclusions after 6 years. at university and 10 years. work is time to accept them as a fact. I am currently in the same situation. 3y. high school, 4 years university, 4 years work experience, not counting internships. The difference is that I deal with administrative, economic work. I had and still have some interests in this field, but the futility of the profession in the real economy of Bulgaria, the miserable conditions and attitude of business to such staff and other things prompted me to decide to retrain. Better to spend a few more years, in my case 3 for retraining, than another 10-15 g to crash into the same wall. The question is to decide what you really want to do, to study what is needed, what is the realization, to consider what you will work and how while studying,