My Academic Achievements: Being an Architect Isn`t Easy

I first found my passion for drawing when I was 13 years old. My school had a technical drawing class. I always had to finish the assignment given first and with utmost neatness as a curious and competitive individual. This was the first stepping stone for me in the world of architecture. Observing my skills with drawing instruments and imagining a plan in 3 dimensions my teacher asked me to try to hand at architecture.

What architecture gave to me were the subjects of these models, rising from the monotonous reproductive models to new self – conceptualized designs. Slowly, as my architectural course continued modeling in both imaginative and concrete forms began to take precedence.

In these 5 years, I have got a great insight into architecture and what it has to offer to me. The urge to learn more about this field keeps me motivated. I feel to truly understand a building we have to experience it in person.

During the last few years of architecture, I have mastered 3D software like Revit, Archicad, SketchUp, and detailed drafting on AutoCAD. During my degree, I had a number of courses that have provided me with a diverse outlook on architecture such as Theory Of Structures, Quantity, Estimation, Surveying, Specification Writing, and Project Management. These all subjects have helped to see a different side of architecture other than design and construction. This part of architecture which is equally important for any project to comes up. I've always dreamed of seeing improvements in the current infrastructure system, keeping up with changing times demands. My education as an architect is satisfactory, but I need to develop and improve the qualities and skills required for good management.

After graduation, I still feel I have to still experience real architecture. I want to learn the basics of starting and finishing a project. As an architect,I do not want to just master in design and spatial orientation but also master the management part of it. By combining architecture with management skills, the architectural experience as a project manager will lead to success.

The clients no longer want to compete individually with architects, engineers, project managers, departments, constructors, etc. A robust integrated service is required in which the architect plays an important role, not only as a designer but as a project manager too.

For construction projects, the degree of complexity and the level of uncertainty is very high; which is why architectural firms need good project management. Architects have in the past been interested primarily in the design process. But now it is expected that architects must deal with real-estate market know-how, post-construction demands for planning, organizing, and managing diverse stakeholders and new building technologies. As an architect, I need to learn about the art of balancing between management, teamwork, communication, and integration. Architectural projects are a combination of creation and order, the famous dialogue between form and function. Controlling time, expense, risk, communication, and integration, these techniques is the perfect addition to the creative and technical training accomplished during architectural career years.

In between semester holidays, I have tried to gain industrial exposure by interning at two firms. Also, our ninth semester consisted of 6 months internship prerequisite, I believed that by interning at these firms, each of which had encompassed various fields, I have gained invaluable experience in working in different environments. I had the opportunity to learn from different architects each of which had varied experiences and methods to tackle the problems they encountered each day. I too have tried to learn and apply different concepts and skills while working on my projects.

While I was preparing for my master's, I was also working on my own individual project which was a bungalow of 1000 sq meters. My participation in this project entailed designing, making a working drawing, and presentation model, and managing the project schedule and estimation. During this project, using my management skills helped us stay on schedule and gave me an opportunity to run an actual live project. But also made me realize that I have much more to learn.

Nevertheless, my academic achievements have not stopped me from engaging in numerous extracurricular activities with interest. I have actively participated in various workshops, seminars as well as co-curricular activities.

As a management stickler, I have a strong career goal of starting my own firm and becoming an entrepreneur like my father who has inspired me. A careful analysis of the options that I had in hand, I felt I was ready for the next step that is to pursue a higher degree that would enable me to think and work at a higher level. Graduate study's emphasis on an intensive and independent study of a specialized area is an ideal way to enable a student to quickly reach knowledge boundaries in a subfield and keep up with the latest development. I realized that construction management studies in a reputable international institution are very important for building higher skills and learning new technologies in this area. Not only does the field open up greater opportunities for employment, it will also allow you to improve your reporting and analytical skills while giving you the opportunity to develop as a successful leader. This course will enable me to learn how to build the project on time and on budget while maintaining the design's integrity and ensuring complete regulatory compliance.

It is with this aim that I am applying to Construction Management at the University of Florida. It would indeed be a dream come true to be able to work under the supervision of renowned Professors in such world-class facilities. Having a degree in a prestigious department like yours will increase my aptitude, experience, and knowledge and give me the required opportunity to flourish.

I also believe I have the drive, communication, intellectual ability, and training to do justice to a challenging program for graduates. I am sure that Construction Management and my abilities as an Architect will give me the opportunity to explore and challenge myself.