Category Archives: Happiness

“Is It Too Late to Start Pursuing Architecture Again?” (Q&A #7)

January 29, 2015 Aldo Leave a comment

Got an email last night from Erika, a young, driven former schoolmate who had to put her architecture dreams on hold due to migration to a different country. Now she has a number of questions that I’d gladly shed some light on. Let’s check out what she had to say.

Hey Aldo! :)

I came across your website just recently. It's really refreshing to know that a Filipino site like this exists!

As a fresh graduate and someone already exposed to the working environment in the corporate world of Architecture, I thought you might be able to give me a lot of perspective on things. If you have the time to go through this, it would help me significantly! I'm sorry this popped in so randomly. Any kind of insight would be great.

This might be long and a little confusing; I apologize in advance, huhu.

Hey there Erika! 🙂 So nice to know that you appreciate the site. It’s really been my goal to put some Philippine context in the myriad of architectural learning sites for students. I’d be glad to help; go on and tell me your story. Continue reading “Is It Too Late to Start Pursuing Architecture Again?” (Q&A #7) →

Attitude, Formation, Happiness

On Smaller Firms: Low Pay, But High Value? (Q&A#5)

December 10, 2014 Aldo Leave a comment

Got an email last night from Millie, in response to The Internship Guide 1: What Are the 2 Major Kinds of Design Firms?. She has been in the design workforce for well more than the year, and gave some insights I thought would be great to share with everyone. Take the floor, Millie!

Hello Aldo! :D

I think that as a business model, the Design Studio is only as good as its team. A small team can only be as well-oiled as the assembly line if everyone is hardworking, willing to step up, and takes responsibility. Apprentices should be fast learners and mentors should be generous with time. 

Unfortunately, most small studios don't compensate as well as big companies. Small, young companies are still growing, and all extra money gets invested towards the firm (new software, comfier chairs, etc). The salaries and benefits may be the same, but the perks are limited. Office parties and bonuses are rare, and you are expected to work a lot (even during typhoons, huhuhu). 

Although working in a small design studio is rewarding, I understand it is not for everyone. Cheers! :)

Continue reading On Smaller Firms: Low Pay, But High Value? (Q&A#5) →

Attitude, Happiness, Principles

You Have Hope: Why It’s OKAY to be A Clueless Architecture Freshman

November 13, 2014 Aldo Leave a comment

You enter the halls of your Architecture School. This is it. This is what you’ve chosen for the next five or so years of your life. And you admittedly aren’t sure if you made the right decision.

Maybe you’ve never taken a single drafting course in your life. Or you aren’t versed in the architectural scene at all -You have no idea what Zahaha did, or how much did I.M. pay, or what kind of music comes out of a Renzo piano. Or you may have come from a long line of lawyers, bankers, or doctors in your family.

The bottom line is, your personal background hasn’t been the most conducive one in pursuing a design course. And for the most part, you don’t know what to expect – from the course, and from yourself.

The first few weeks of plates and exercises hits, and you feel as incompetent as ever. You don’t know where to begin in drafting a sheet, you always get the feeling that you’re not understanding things enough, and you have no idea if you’re even designing properly.

This is helplessness. This is incompetence. This is cluelessness.

If this describes you, I’m here to pat your back and tell you why you shouldn’t dwell on it, and that with a bit of passion, you’ll get over the wall. Continue reading You Have Hope: Why It’s OKAY to be A Clueless Architecture Freshman →

Attitude, Blog Info - Q&A, Happiness, Health

9 Meaningful Points on Becoming Happier, Today. (Q&A #2)

November 11, 2014 Aldo Leave a comment

A recurring question I’ve been getting is “What is your most valuable advice for someone beginning or already in Architecture School?”, or something along those lines. So I thought I’d address it in this 2nd parcel of Q&A.

Getting right down to it, my own personal take on this has nothing to do with software or taking a special class. I think that a raging focus on skills training can only take you so far.

Surprise surprise, my most valuable piece of advice for anyone that wants a meaningful time in architecture school is a principle, an attitude that can actually be applied to all aspects of life.

In a nutshell, you could say that it’s become a sort of life philosophy in working towards my life-plan.

It took me over 20 years to really commit to it, but once I did – I never found more fulfillment in all my endeavors.

Continue reading 9 Meaningful Points on Becoming Happier, Today. (Q&A #2) →

Attitude, Formation, Happiness

On Death, Cancer, and Living for Others: Never Take Anyone for Granted

October 29, 2014 Aldo Leave a comment

A solemn November 1 to all.

What are you living for? Who are you living for?

Today on Archi Student Help, I’m going to tackle a very personal story of mine, one that is both heartfelt and inspiring, and one that I hope you can take the time to read. It’s about the death of a loved one.

But why death? How does this even fit into the context of surviving architecture school?

Remember, in whatever we do, our motivations are at the core of who we are. So I hope you’ll consider this:

There are people who have sacrificed their lives for you to be who you are today – and you should live your life to give theirs glory.

Today I’d like to share a perspective on why you should be even more driven to be the very best that you can be, in everything that you do.
Continue reading On Death, Cancer, and Living for Others: Never Take Anyone for Granted →

Attitude, Happiness, Principles

As Promised: My Personal Life-Plan at Age 23.

October 14, 2014 Aldo Leave a comment

Craft your life-plan today, and you’ll wake up every morning with greater direction. It doesn’t need to be long or grand – it just needs to be honest.

In previous entries, I stressed my beliefs in the importance of dreaming big and thinking deeply about what you want in life, especially for us young people. Dream big, and then commit, is what I said.

I also promised that I’d share my own person goals in life as an example, and today I am making good on that promise. Seen below is my own personal Life Plan for myself, crafted at age 23. Think of it as what drives me to wake up every morning.

This is my own personal sharing to the world at large, partly to keep me accountable to my dreams, and partly in hopes that it could somehow help another person achieve theirs. Continue reading As Promised: My Personal Life-Plan at Age 23. →

Attitude, Happiness, Principles

What Do You Want Out of Life?

October 13, 2014 Aldo Leave a comment

There’s a crisis that thrives in the hearts of many people today, whether young or old, male or female. And it’s a destructive force that doesn’t take lives – it takes souls.

That crisis is living without meaning. So many people these days go through the motions of life, doing things because people tell them to, never looking to surpass themselves, going merely where the wind blows – and feeling empty.

What do you want out of life? What are you living for? Where do your passions lie? Continue reading What Do You Want Out of Life? →