Why A Mentor Will Make You A Better Architect

In a perfect world, we would all come into existence ready to leap into our purpose-driven lives and careers and make an impact solely based on instinct and raw passion. Wouldn’t it be nice if we grew up and naturally knew how to do what we love doing most—perfectly?  While it’s harmless to wonder what life would be like in this utopia, aspiring architects must dig deep and realize that what they love to, must be worked at and continuously earned.

Modern architecture is a unique field full of individuals who see the beauty of creating something in the present that simultaneously embodies the traditional past and the modern future. Those who love architecture have an innate desire to add to a skyline and leave their individual mark through their own designs. These are not small aspirations and as such, require a great deal of training, commitment and passion—and most importantly a mentor.

Here’s why a mentor is a must when it comes to perfecting your skills in architecture (or any field):

Admiring The Great Architects

The wealth of knowledge an architect must possess can be an overwhelming feat. Creating something of substance won’t happen until the past greats are studied and understood. Beyond that, an architect must have a solid understanding of structure, physics, communication and design.

For these reasons and a great number more, it’s of vital importance that every aspiring architect finds his or herself a mentor in the field. There are even online networks available that help you find a mentor or establish a community of mentors in your field.

When it comes to learning an art, it’s essential to hear from those who are experts and a mentor can provide a lifeline of sorts when it comes to creating a lasting career in the field. There are endless reasons why having a mentor will make you a better architect overall.

 There’s So Much Left To Learn

Architecture is a vast undertaking, and no matter what level of skill or desire you start at, you are going to need help and advice along the way. Finding a great mentor gives you access to insightful tips, hands-on help and even advice on how to handle subjects with which you may struggle.

Having a resource available is the first step in creating a foundation in the field that you’ll be able to build a solid and meaningful career on. Talk to those you admire, such as your professors or colleagues. You can never be too experienced to have a mentor because, like any relationship, there inevitably comes a time when the fire begins to die out just a little.

An architect’s relationship with his or her field of work is no different. All of that initial passion can begin to fizzle under the mathematical elements, deadlines, expectations and competition. It’s in moments like these that a mentor really comes in handy. They have not only been through this before, but they’ve survived and come out the other side. A mentor will not only help you reignite your inspiration for the work you love, but show you how to maneuver through the trickiness and come out a more successful professional!

Creating Connections In The Field

On a very basic level, having a mentor makes you a better architect because you automatically expand your networking potential.

Your mentor has talented colleagues that have a lot to teach as well. Utilizing not only your mentor’s insight, but getting to know others in the field is an incredible step in establishing your career and learning some phenomenal things along the way.

Depending on where you are earning your degree, having a mentor may be more of a requirement. Looked at from this angle, your mentor is not only mandatory, but a gift as well. Many institutions offer the option of personalized mentor-matching— This means you’re guaranteed to not only meet your school requirements, but find a mentor that is going to be well-matched to your personal learning style. These early connections can become vital as you head into your career.

From Mentor To Peer

Half the battle in becoming a great architect is learning to establish meaningful relationships with others in the field. Your mentor is going to help you create a career that takes you beyond the drawing board and into the world of creative physical design.

This type of learning process can often lead to a mentor becoming a great friend and peer throughout the course of your career. Having a person you can trust professionally; a person to be critical when needed; a person to be honest always; a person to be helpful when you struggle—these mentor attributes can only give your work more meaning and purpose in the long run.

Taking the time to be matched up with a mentor will not only make you a great architect, but will push your passion for the career to an entirely new level. Keep an open mind to learning what the experts have to teach, and you’ll find yourself contributing something special of your own to that skyline in no time at all.

Do you have a mentor yet? If you don’t then we strongly encourage you to read through this article over and over again—share it with your friends, too— to learn why a relationship with a mentor in your field can become a career life-line, boosting you professionally and personally.

Mentors can help you advance and achieve the goals of your dreams. So get out there and find yourself an architectural mentor today.

Who do you look up to in the field of architecture?

The post Why A Mentor Will Make You A Better Architect appeared first on Freshome.com.

via. Freshome.com