It’s 4 am. The bit just broke. And the file just won’t cut. I’ve been operating the CNC since 6 the night before. And that after a full day’s work at the office. I am exhausted. But I have a great feeling of satisfaction. Five years ago, when I first started college I would never have dreamed that I would be in here, in this workshop, operating this technological marvel until 4 am. And much more than I could have imagined in my days of Legos, HO trains, and model building.
As far back as I can remember I have always wanted to be an architect. I was encouraged in my pursuit by a seasoned architect, a dear family friend who was like a grandfather to me. My first site visit was with him and my first set of plans was guided by him. He shared with me his love for building and working with his hands. Pairing my interests in math, physics, and art, architecture seemed like a logical decision for a profession. I was homeschooled by mom, who was at one time a high school math teacher, so it was a brand new adventure for me when I started attending CCA in the fall of 2007. Over the last five years, I have eagerly learned much about the skills, the creative rigor of design, and the responsibilities of the profession of architecture. Having always enjoyed working with my hands and my experience building models with my dad, I have found an eagerness and natural affinity to build models. Despite my limited use of computers during high school (writing papers, internet research and the occasional game) I have quickly learned and am doing things with computers that I never dreamed of before.
As the oldest of six children, I have had to diligently apply myself to attain my goals. To help pay for college, I began working in the workshops at school. But even more than paying for college this is the catalyst that sparked my interest in these fabrication tools. Along with my interest and natural ability in software I can see a greater potential for these tools in the architecture field.
I am a committed and ambitious design student as well as a quick learner.
My enthusiasm for learning especially the software available for architecture design has led to my passion for sharing my knowledge of these fantastic tools. I am looking forward to pursuing my trajectory in the profession through my studies in graduate school.
It took a while but I finally got the bit changed and the CNC to accept the cut file. And away it went humming through its monotonous patterns of intricate cuts giving birth to the final massive acrylic base for a fellow student’s project. I love to show others what these tools can do. The deceptive ease of it all – when the careful calculations and the intricate knowledge of the machines allow me to coax yet another design from the digital realm into the physical.