"There are three types of companies; those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; those who wonder what happened."
Anonymous

Emerging professionals and gray-hair architects alike must take control over their destiny. We are ultimately responsible for making things happen in our lives and in our profession.

"Success is a product of unremitting attention to purpose."
Benjamin Disraeli

Could the process of becoming an architect be easier? Sure. Would that make us better architects or would there be more architects? Maybe. Historically internship is that time beyond academia where one learns the practical side of the profession, culminating in passing the licensing exam, and thereby being able to call oneself an architect. In the past a license was a piece of paper that said this person had enough knowledge to guarantee the health, safety and welfare of the public. Are these still relevant definitions?

"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."
Vince Lombardi

Is that time between the academy and licensure still needed? Does the exam "prove" one has the knowledge to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public? Nearly all architects would agree that there is much to be taught in school, and there needs to be some time devoted to learning the more practical aspects of architecture. Could this side of the profession be taught in the academy? Yes. Would that add a substantial amount of time to the academic portion of one's education? Clearly.

"There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are the very simplest things and because it takes a man's life to know them, the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave."
Ernst Hemingway Death in the Afternoon

The future of our profession lies with our emerging professionals. How do we carefully remind practitioners of their responsibility to teach and mentor our young professionals, so that architecture can continue to grow and flourish?

""Cheshire Puss," she [Alice] began ... "would you please tell me which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends on where you want to get to," said the cat."
Lewis Carroll

The profession should be as responsible for the education of our emerging professionals as the academy. Firms must commit to educating and certifying mentors to help in this process. This certification approach will help educate mentors on how to best nurture and convey what it means to be an architect. The profession could offer mentors continuing education credit for this certification, and firms' a discount on their professional dues. We have to make things happen now -- not wait for something to miraculously happen in the future. For the health of our profession and the benefit of our interns, we cannot wonder what happened to the profession of architecture.