Miami University, Oxford, OH, US, Graduate Teaching Assistant

As a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Miami University, I held a leadership position of overseeing and guiding the undergraduate student body. In my second year year, I oversaw a graphics and mixed media course for first year students and helped them to broaden their manual skill sets and media spectra. During my first year, rather than assisting a professor with instructing a specific course, my primary task was to advertise, record, and help visiting lecturers and professionals feel important and comfortable. This provided me with a wide spectrum of perspectives on the architectural as well as related fields. I did my best to absorb as much information as I could from each individual and apply what I could to my own work and thought process. This experience was valuable because it's not necessarily something I can achieve in a professional environment.

nonzero \ architecture, Santa Monica, CA, US, Design Intern

With nonzero, I had the opportunity to work on a number of projects ranging in discipline. I appreciated the amount of variety and responsibility they allowed me to explore. I worked on a couple of recording studios which was an area of the field I was unfamiliar with; I learned a great deal regarding acoustics and how to design spaces accordingly. I also worked on a Pier renovation in the Los Angeles area, a mountain house renovation in Europe, and made a few diagrams for an older project to submit for competition. I additionally had an opportunity to take a couple of projects to the building department on my own for review and approval, which was an experience I do not often have. Overall, my short time with nonzero was filled with excitement and variety, giving me a fresh perspective on where I would like to take my career.

3D Group, Inc., Columbus, OH, US, Design Intern

With 3D Group, I had the opportunity to work on dozens of projects ranging in discipline. I really appreciated the amount of responsibility and trust they gave me. I was largely responsible for conducting weekly field reports on one of the long-term projects in our area. I had small tasks here and there that weren't extremely demanding but were tasks I was unfamiliar with, such as researching brick manufacturers, brick stainers, window screen manufacturers, etc. and meeting with them to determine which companies to use. I also got a bit of experience in the Planning & Zoning department and a good deal of experience in the Mechanical, Plumbing, and Electrical Engineering departments.

In addition, I had the opportunity to travel a few hours away and start a new adaptive-reuse project from scratch. I met with the owner/client and took field measurements and photographs; I then made the project digital and took it all the way to a permit set. I had the opportunity to apply my knowledge of how a building goes together on this internship, and it helped me gain clarity on how different firms have different styles of design.

Altar'd State, Crestview Hills, KY, US, Sales Representative

With Altar'd State I was hired as a store sales representative, but was also responsible for preparing a number of the displays, organizing the store, and client relations. This all gave me a fresh perspective on the business and marketing side of the world, as well as great experience working with clients of material goods (something I hadn't previously had much experience with).

Costa Brown Architecture, San Francisco, CA, US, Design Intern

I was given a good deal of responsibility with Costa Brown Architecture (Formerly Theodore Brown & Partners). After putting out their feelers to test my skills and knowledge, they put me as the mind for designing a brand new residential complex. I was given schematic sketches and asked to make them a reality; over the course of my semester with the company, I did dozens of iterations and refined them all to help create elevations, floor plans, an underground parking garage plan, roof decks/terraces, fountain and fire pit design, residential unit layouts, ground floor retail space layouts, etc. I worked closely and often with the California Building Code book and sat in on meetings with consultants from various companies, including but not limited to elevator manufacturers and steel truss manufacturers.

I enlightened the office with the magic of Revit and taught a couple of the members how to utilize many of its tools. In addition to the Revit model, I built several hand models of our designs in order for clients to visualize our concept in 3D. I went on site visits for the project as well as for a couple of other projects to conduct field reports as well as meet with clients and owners. I was able to really hone in on my professional skills and communication skills during this internship.

ms consultants, inc., Columbus, OH, US, Design Intern

With MS Consultants, I worked mainly on Redlines and preparing construction documents to be sent for permit submittal - I did a good amount of manual stamping, dating, and crimping. I enjoyed having the opportunity to work directly with various engineers because I observed how all of the processes come full circle for a project. I got my first taste of how an office environment functions and gained a better understanding of how to exhibit professionalism.

The Big Splash, Grove City, OH, US, Lifeguard and Swim Instructor

The Big Splash is a city regulated and run aquatics park in my hometown of Grove City, OH. This was my summer job throughout high school and following my first year of undergraduate. I began my time as a lifeguard, and by the end of the four years I was a lifeguard, a swim lessons instructor, the mascot (I was the one inside the suit most of the time), and I helped handle disputes and client relations. A lifeguard, in addition to watching the water, is responsible for enforcing rules, responding to emergencies, and administering first aid needs. Overall, The Big Splash was a second family to me, but it gave me a severe amount of responsibility and liability for the health safety and welfare of the community (which is why autidors can come in at any time to test lifeguards and revoke their licenses if necessary), and that made leaving work after a successful day doubly rewarding. It also allowed me a few years to further develop my ability to work on a professional team.