In college, medical school, and graduate school, I don’t think I could’ve been more involved than I was. I joined clubs, made friends, and networked. Unfortunately, a lot of those platonic relationships didn’t last, and I think that’s quite normal for some people, especially in this day and age of the loneliness epidemic. In architecture school, because I’m much older than my peers now, I want to keep a respectful distance. I don’t feel comfortable inserting myself into the lives of people from other generations, purely out of respect. I really like my entire cohort of peers—every single person. They may not feel the same about me, but overall, I think everyone has professional respect.
The only exception is that I will actively seek out professional societies that could advance my career. I joined the AIA chapter at SCI Arc as treasurer today because I’ve previously served as treasurer for a student organization, and I’m also looking for a summer internship. This will put me in direct contact with undergraduate students, which I didn’t particularly want. However, it’s part of the experience, and I think undergraduate students who join AIA are focused on their careers (and not partying).
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