Much of the general public today sees architecture as a limited profession, the only variation coming in the size and function of projects. Most architects, on the other hand, approach the profession as an opportunity to make a difference in the world by enhancing the quality of people’s lives. While the majority of the public have their favorite buildings, I have found people to be generally accepting of whatever gets built. They are typically unaware of the varying styles of architecture in the contemporary world, including the vast difference in approaches and methodologies architects have. It is the subjective nature and diversity within the field of architecture that are perhaps the most exciting, and my favorite part of the profession. For example, some architects are well-known for their controversial forms, whereas others strive to integrate their buildings with the surrounding environment. Some prefer working with a committee on a master planning study while others enjoy working intimately with homeowners on the subtleties of their master bathroom layout. As long as one is responsible, most every approach carries its own merits and is a valid direction for an architect’s career. I don’t believe that one direction is necessarily “better” than another, but I think the tension created with the varying styles and approaches leads to better architecture globally.

The internship provides an opportunity to explore some of the different approaches, styles and project types within the architectural profession. This may happen at different firms, hopefully with different approaches to design, and preferably with projects of varying sizes. It is only after walking through this exercise, in my opinion, that one can gain a well-rounded view of the profession and move forward confidently in the direction he/she chooses. On the contrary, I feel one has missed this opportunity of exploration by starting at a firm fresh from school and working on the same project type using the same style and approach for the entirety of their internship.

This view has defined my own course of internship. Along the way I have been privileged to work with diverse firms on varying sized projects across the country. My architectural degree is from the University of Hawaii, where the focus of my studies was sustainable design. After working for a short time at a firm in Honolulu, I moved to New York City where I had the opportunity to work for two very different firms. One was a small residential firm with one architect, and the other was an internationally-renowned “highdesign” firm with work all over the world. Currently, I reside in Nashville, Tennessee where I work at a large prominent firm with project types including healthcare, institutional and residential work.

With this internship as my background and my licensing exams nearly complete, I am rapidly approaching the crossroads of being a registered architect. As I think about my future as an architect, I rely on my internship experiences to help me choose the direction to move…or stay.