2021 Summer Internship Reflection
I knew from the start that I wanted my internship to have something to do with architecture since it’s been my plan for a few years to study architecture after I graduate. I looked around online for local architecture studios and applied to one of them. I also asked my mom if she knew anyone I could work with, which is how I met Carlo, a building contractor/architect. I met with him and almost immediately after started working on the project he’d given me.
With this internship I wanted to get a view into what my hopeful future career is like, both firsthand and from my mentor. I also set out to improve the skills that I would need in the future as an architect.
The project I was given was to model a proposed redesign to an office building. I used a CAD (Computer Aided Design) program to continue the project that my mentor had started. I started by modeling a spiral staircase which was a fairly difficult, yet thorough intro to the program and took me a full day to complete. We met every available weekday from 9-5 so that I could continue working on the model which had to be finished, or at least presentable, by the end of the week. I completed it on time and came along to the meeting where the redesign that I had modeled would be proposed. I took notes on what was green-lit and what had to be changed and got to be a part of the process that would decide how the actual building will get remodeled.
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Once the remodels had been approved my new task was to model the new windows, doors, mailboxes, and wall to scale and make measured plans for the different people and places that would create them. Outside of the project, I also practiced drawing with my mentor who had taken architectural drawing classes in college. He taught me the basics of multiple different styles and had me practice all of them.
Honestly, my biggest take away was realizing how quickly I can pick something up, especially when it’s something I enjoy. I was able to start working in a 3D modeling program I only barely used once before and ended creating (almost) a whole building without needed almost any help from my mentor. The same was true when I needed to make the plans, I saw how he had made his previously and I was able to completely recreate them so I could make the new plans. I didn’t know going into this internship that I was able to do any of that but once I had to I was able to quickly figure it out. There wasn’t particularly any one thing that changed my perspective but the entire experience gave me a whole new perspective into the world of architecture and what goes on behind every building.
This internship expanded upon my informational, self-directional, and financial, economic, and business literacy skills. My informational skills were extremely useful since I had to use technology for most of my internship. There were many times that relied on past knowledge or experiences as well as research to solve problems that arose such as working cross-platform with my mentor or modeling the building. Those experiences are also good examples of my self-directional skills and how I developed upon them to be able to work as independently and only need my mentor’s guidance or opinions occasionally. What I did need my mentor for was learning about the business side of architecture, like estimating a project’s, cost, hiring contractors to provide the materials, and finding the best value, which expanded upon my financial, economic, and business literacy skills.
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I got almost exactly what I had hoped for from the internship in my initial expectations. I was able to see what being an architect is like and developed my modeling, drawing, and designing skills from my work and with the help of my mentor. Those are extremely valuable to me as they’ll help me in my school assignments, work, senior project, and life after high school.
The most challenging thing I worked on was creating the plans for the redesigned parts. My mentor was very busy during the latter half of my internship so I had to figure how to make/recreate the plans both in his style and so that they’re clear enough for the contractors to have everything they need without having too much. This was challenging because I had use a different program to create them and had little reference so I had to figure out how to do everything from scratch.
I don’t think I could’ve chosen a much better internship for preparing my for my future. From I got the skills, insights, and practice that I wanted to help me with becoming an architect or urban planner. It was also an overall great experience, I had fun, did things I enjoyed, and learned new skills! I’d be happy go back or have another experience like it I the future.