If you were to take three architects, put them one at a time in the same room and ask each of them to talk about the white wall in front of them you would get three distinctly different answers. One architect might focus on the solidity of the wall. Another architect may emphasize how the plane of the wall meets the other walls, floor, and ceiling. The third architect might see the voids within the wall. The ability of an architect to look beyond the wood framing and gypsum, to see the wall as itself, to see the wall in perspective and to see what the wall lacks is a talent. This talent has fallen short when it comes to the professions own architectural internship.

There are many areas, as in any field, in which there is room for improvement. Initiating a program that would make inherent a collaborative and supportive culture throughout the field of architecture would address one of the most critical deficiencies in the IDP structure.

It is imperative that this is applied when reviewing the internship program. In talking with other young professionals (a doctor, a teacher, and an accountant), I found their internship experiences to be insightful.

Asked about the transition stages of the internship from school to workplace, the accountant noted that mentoring was important and that the mentors "are still young enough to relate to the college grads but have enough experience to be a mentor."

The teacher when asked what made the difference in her experience said a supportive environment - that more experienced teachers would mentor others by providing support and advice. The more experienced teacher would frequently sit in on the class and provide the less experienced teacher with feedback on ways to improve.

Some might say that if you feel a lack of support you are not cut out to be an architect. But when speaking with the IDP Director he stated that if architects choose not to play their role as mentors the profession will lose.

This is a call to action by all architects to set the stage for the future of the profession; each professional has a responsibility, and the possibility of making an impact in the life a young intern. Phil J. Bona, a mentor, said, "It is the right of every emerging professional to demand from their firm's leadership the opportunity to achieve greater understanding and awareness of the entire design process. It is also the responsibility of every emerging professional to be motivated, diligent, and willing at all times."

The wall that sits before us all is but a small obstacle that we should feel motivated to climb…….all to gain a unique perspective to assist one another on our architectural careers. Each individual in the profession has the ability to be part of the wall or to be part of the ladder that will help the profession as a whole overcome this deficiency.