My Story

1991 - that was the year I fell in love with architecture.  My family was on a summer vacation in North Carolina.  On the way to Hilton Head we stopped in Asheville. The only detail I had seen about what we were going to encounter was a small snapshot of a front facade of a cool-looking, smaller house.  The photo from the brochure my mom handed me made it look like a French home squeezed between buildings in a city.  If you have ever been to the Biltmore Mansion, you'll know that there is nothing small about it.  I literally fell down when we all reached the top of the hill to see the Olmsted designed landscape acting as a prelude to the architecture.  My expectations were "small" and what I was met with was the most magnificent display of built beauty I had seen to that point.  It was grand and I wanted part of it.

Ever since I can remember, I was complimented on my drawing capabilities.  I was blessed to take private lessons as a kid, and I really enjoyed learning different techniques whether that was water-colors, pastels, charcoal (my favorite), or oil painting.  I also loved playing with Legos.  So the decision to pursue architecture came from a combination of "good at drawing / building" and "loved beautiful mansions."  But in all seriousness, I pursued that goal of being an architect with blinders on.  We're often asked what we want to be when we "grow up," and I think that it was around Junior High that specific question became more important to me to form a plan.

In High School, I did a career day like most people and visited a local architecture firm.  It was a rather typical looking office building and the visit was rather boring.  After a brief tour, I was sat in front of a set of drawings for a building and just flipped through the pages.  It was fascinating to me.  During one of the summers in High School, I applied and participated in the architecture camp at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  It was pretty grueling, and should've been an eye-opener for the long studio hours I would experience, but I really enjoyed that satisfaction of the finished project.

The Freshman courses in architecture are intended to weed out those who just aren't going to cut it, which I think is true of any of the majors one is pursuing.  Architecture was no different, and there were several classmates who we didn't see return in the program Sophomore year.  Knowing where I am now, there is a memory that particularly stands out to me.  I was talking to a good friend in those early college days, and said: "Maybe I should be doing something different... maybe something with languages... or to become a Chiropractor like my dad...."  I was questioning this solid plan I had formed.  I was encouraged to stay the course, and ultimately, I'm glad I did because of the people I've met and places I've been along the way.  But without a doubt, I wish I had known my strengths, skill-sets, and how I'm wired, in order to know what impact I could have in the workforce.

I have two degrees: Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver.  I'm proud of both.  They came with some blood, sweat, and tears... unfortunately I mean this literally considering some studios didn't have AC and model building with X-acto blades when it's 3:00 a.m. can be dangerous.  But it was the foundation of a great 10+ years of experience in the architecture profession.  The only thing was that several times after my first degree, I began to question the path I was on.  But I stayed the course... lots of time and money had been invested... how could I give this up?  (sound familiar to anyone?)

(Not me by the way... but one of the few good professional photos that did NOT show a compass and protractor in an image of "architecture." We're not using those so much in these modern times. ;)

In 2015, I absolutely had to pump the brakes.  I had taken counsel with some very dear and close colleagues in the architecture profession, and I just knew this traditional path was no longer mine.  The cool part to me is that many of my colleagues from my architectural education are doing something "non-traditional" with their degree; by that I mean, they are not a licensed architect.  I love this.  It shows just how universal a degree in architecture actually is because we learn how to see the big picture, while drilling down into the details.  Some examples of this are a VP in Marketing, a 3D model master, a UX-designer or an Executive Recruiter.  I still love and appreciate architects and heartily congratulate my colleagues when they achieve the ultimate of getting licensed.

The point in this backstory of my history is to show you that at several turns in my path, I should have done a check-in.  In fact, I could have stayed in my profession and found great satisfaction within a development firm as a project manager or doing a business development role within a design firm because that's what I've learned from this perspective and my training as a Career Coach.

We all have unique skillsets, personalities, talents, and capabilities.  If you find yourself knee-deep in your career and inwardly dying a slow death because it doesn't fit you, then stop and take a moment to evaluate.  If you are at the very beginning of your career, wouldn't it make sense to spend some time and resources to align yourself with a profession and work-setting where you will absolutely thrive?

My mission is to help people align themselves with what it is they are called to do.  I am LOVING this career re-direct and can see how all of the past years have been training for this.  More on that next time...

Until then ~ Godspeed!

Michelle