In my first week of being an apprentice, I was tasked to revise the firm’s “apprentice manual” and I was excited about it because anything that includes revising, writing, proofreading is really my thing. While working on it, I realized that it was actually a good way to start my apprentice program. I learned the Do(s) and Don’t(s) of the firm when it comes to producing such projects, tasks, etc. Having it as my first task made it a lot easier for me to do the ones given afterwards.
The second week comes and this time, I felt that “Yes! I am actually working on an architecture related task.” I was asked to do another revision work, but this time it is for a book Ar. Baño was working on, titled “A Simplified CAD Standards for Architectural Working Drawings.” Through this, I was able to review some of the firm’s projects which all served as a guide for me in revising and detailing the content which has already been created. That wasn’t the best part. That same week, I was told that I would be producing a book using the one I revised as a guide and it would be “A Simplified CAD Standards for Architectural Interior Drawings.” Juggling those two tasks in more than two weeks got me really challenged. I don’t know, until now, how I managed to finish both tasks. Maybe the Thomasian architecture student in me during plates and deadlines just kicked in and worked herself out.
In my two remaining weeks, I was tasked to create a video presentation on “The Value of Architect’s Fee.” Honestly, I don’t have any experience nor background in video editing so that, too, was a challenge for me. I had to search for the best and easiest software to use and watched a lot of videos on how to edit videos. I’m very much happy and contented with how the final product turned out anyway.
The whole program was really a great experience. All the learnings and experiences I gained in this apprenticeship program, I will always remember and treasure. Not only that but also the connection I made with people making me gain new acquaintances of which some of them became my friends. This apprentice program also made me realize a lot of things. If studying architecture is hard, getting and working in the real world is much harder. It takes much passion, courage, and perseverance to survive and establish a name as an architect.