I’m a big kid now - Part 2

It was just a little over 40 years ago that I set my sights on being an Architect. Well, at age 13, I’m not sure what the profession was that involved drafting. I just knew that I really wanted to be a drafter. My parents moved during the summer between my 8th and 9th grade. The structure of the new school district had 9th grade in the middle school. So, classes were still selected for the student. Just like my 8th grade experience there was 4 weeks of mechanical drafting in wood shop. Wood shop was only one semester, so there was a lot crammed into that class.

Keep in mind, this class was a repeat for me. But when we got to the Mechanical Drafting, I couldn’t get enough of it. It was more of the same, plan and elevation of some widget. We had to create the iso-view. I discovered I could pull the shape together in my mind really easy. Seeing the 2D, yet visualizing the 3D. The real fun for me was getting that 3D image on paper.

Then came 10th grade, at the end of 9th we had to select our classes. The core group was provided in order to graduate. We were able to choose the type of English, Science or Math class we always had to choose the 4 basics. But with 7 class periods, there were three electives. For the first time our school was offering ROTC. Coming from a military family, I knew I wanted this one. My oldest brother had married a native German, so I had to take German class. But my first choice for an elective was Drafting. This was pretty exciting, to be able to spend the entire year just drawing. My electives were the same each year of high school, I guess that would still count as electives.

My drafting teacher Mr. Towers, was an architectural graduate. His class was focused less on the mechanical drafting and more on Architectural drafting. This was my first real exposure to the Architectural profession. We did do the standard mechanical drafting exercises, but I remember having to come up with plan ideas. As a class, our assignments varied from replicating existing plans or elevations. I still have my High School text book used for all three years.

Each year we always ended the final 9 weeks with a ‘project’. Keep in mind that these had very simple requirements. A floor plan and exterior elevations. The only other requirement was, whatever building type we selected we had to interview a person. This was so much like the real world and I had no idea at the time. We would have to talk to that person and find out what they would want in their building. There were a lot of houses done, myself included, because the easy thing was to talk to a family member. After doing two homes, 10th & 11th grade, I was challenged by but teacher my senior year not to do another house plan.

My senior year was focused on doing an Arby’s. My Dad at the time, was the general manager at the local Arby’s in Tucson. This was an easy interview, because it was my Dad. I spent a couple of weeks with him finding what worked and what did not. Visiting his restaurant and understanding the basics. The kitchen, serving, lobby and dining were the main components. Sketching up some plan ideas and talking with him what worked. 

Just like all my previous years, I received an ‘A’ in the class my senior year. My senior year was somewhat confusing in the direction I was going to take. I mentioned earlier that I come from a family in the military. That was almost my path, like my Dad and Brothers. It was not cut and dry for me to graduate high school and go to a University to get a degree. In Part 3, I will share the details of my senior year and the fun in selecting what I wanted to be when I grow up. Anything worthwhile in life always has an interesting journey and an even more interesting story.

…and now for something completely different.
Southern sea otters have flaps of skin under their forelegs that act as pockets. When diving, they use these pouches to store rocks and food.

 

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I’m a big kid now - Part 1
 

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Thursday, 28 March 2024