One week at SCI Arc

I just completed one week of architecture school (summer program) at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, and it’s been terrific. Everyone there has been really kind, and the experience has been just a mix of different individuals from all walks of life. It’s really making me want to take the leap of faith and venture into this direction for the rest of my career. However, I just need to get the full scholarship, which is not easy.

There’s something completely therapeutic about creating art and being in the studio; making something beautiful is a process I can’t explain that brings a measure of joy to me that nothing else can. It’s also beneficial for my bipolar disorder. Additionally, being able to do it as a career is something I will surely value because, as they say, it’s the dose that makes the medicine—or is it poison? I forget. It is a nontraditional path for sure, and I probably won’t be guaranteed riches beyond what I’ve already accrued, but at the same time, I feel I’m not in a position where I need to chase a high income to live, as I’ve already noted in previous posts. I’m choosing a profession where I can do what I love, not just what pays the rent and puts food on the table.

One thing I’ve definitely noticed is that the pace of work for architects and artists is much slower than that of the average professional. I feel that the work-hard mentality most people complain about in architecture school won’t be an issue for me, as someone who’s already used to working very hard and very efficiently. I feel like it would be a challenge I’m ready for and more than capable of taking on. Of course, the biggest barrier to entry is finances, and I’m in the process of negotiating a financial package with the school as part of the application process, which I’m definitely optimistic about. Fingers crossed for the future.