On your first day of classes, you walk in dreaming about how you are going to do great things to change the planet, unaware of what architecture school is really like.
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And then you find out that you have assignments and projects due during week 1, which was supposed to be syllabus week.
And you find out that it's a group project.
You've spent countless hours making that precious model, and right before your review, a clumsy someone bumps into that precious wonder.
And there goes all-nighter #1, during week 1, trying to fix something that wasn't even your fault. You promise yourself you will never let it happen again, but we all know the truth.
While everyone is enjoying "Thirsty Thursdays," you're busy in studio, making love to chipboard and X-ACTOs. That's fine, you still have midnight pizza and studio shenanigans to look forward to.
But hey, good thing that you can manage with less sleep and less food now? Maybe?
You establish priorities, and start developing strong feelings towards non-studio classes. Let me tell you, not always positive ones.
And just then, your university forces you to take non-architectural classes. "So you're telling me that I have to go to a building that is not my studio building for a class?"
In that non-architectural class, when anyone asks you what your major is, you only get one reaction.
But amidst all your architectural training, you develop a whole new vocabulary. Are you even an architect if you haven't ever used the word "juxtapose"?
And the minute anyone asks you about your grades, you only have one thing to say. And most of your professors will agree.
Damn, that feeling though, after you make something look amazing, whether that be a physical model or a digital rendering. Rhino and table-saws don't scare you anymore.
But everyone by now has realized that mistakes do happen. We all know Murphy's law by now, don't we? Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
At least you learn how to fight to get a laser cut slot! (Oh trust me, it always gets nasty.)
And learn how to make some really really cool stuff.
But you feel helpless, and hate yourself, when you forget to save your work. Ctrl+S is more precious than sleep.
When final projects hit, you have at least 20 iterations of your final Rhino model, photoshop rendering, and Illustrator line work.
And you may look something like this, just until the final reviews.
But the minute final reviews end, this is you:
Wait, I think this is more accurate:
But not for too long, only until the next project.
