About Me

A Vocation not a Career - A passion for Architecture

A career in Architecture is not something that I intend to pursue for a decade and then stop. I plan to pursue it for a lifetime.

When I was a child, I remember my parents asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. My mother wanted me to be an artist like my grandmother or pursue any dream that came to me. My father wanted me to become a lawyer because if I worked and became good at it, I would never have to struggle for money.
Many people thought I should be many things  however I remember one day telling my parents, "I've decided!" with the surety that all children have,

"I want to be an Architect by day and an Artist by night!"

I thought it very romantic to be a little like Superman but in my own way because I didn't have super powers.

For a number of years I had forgotten about it. I being somewhere around the age of five when I first uttered the phrase, but it never truly left me.

For a number of years I tried a number of different things. High school was a big experimental part of my life, as I'm sure it must be for most people.
At first, I thought I'd be like my brother and go into computer science, pursue computer programing or computer engineering and learn to build my own computers like he could. I thought it obvious I should then take all the "Computer Programing" and "Computer Engineering" courses I could take. I love the math and the theory and I'm sure it helped that my favorite teacher taught all three. However, eventually I realised that I didn't want to end up solely behind a desk or in a lab. I wanted to interact with people and so, I decided information technology just wasn't for me.
From that point on, I tried art and fashion, although I never really made it past a single semester of the latter. I finally realised how much sewing might actually be involved. I loved art, as I still do, but it never really satisfied my love and need for things like maths and sciences in my life. I even competed in wrestling in high school but never found it something I'd do for the rest of my life.
In my high school "victory lap" when I had finished all of my prerequisites but still couldn't figure out what I wanted to do, I finally came back to Architecture. 

Stepping up to the Challenge

In 2012, my friend Rustam, challenged members and friends of Kage Musha Dojo to run Tough Mudder. Tough Mudder is - what I could only describe as - one of the most determination-challenging, faith-defying, physically-demanding events the world over, that cannot be described as a marathon, triathlon or otherwise.
Of course, when I heard about it, I knew it was something I would probably do for the fun of it. When I read the What Is Tough Mudder page I knew I had to do it. The Tough Mudder website describes it as,

"Tough Mudder is a team-oriented 10-12 mile (18-20 km) obstacle course designed to test physical strength and mental grit. Tough Mudder puts camaraderie over finisher rankings and is not a timed race but a team challenge that allows participants to experience exhilarating, yet safe, world-class obstacles they won't find anywhere else" What Is Tough Mudder

When we got there I still had no clue what I was getting myself into. I had seen the mudder map, read up on the obstacles and knew approximately how long it was. I expected that. And, I was prepared for that. No matter how many descriptions you read, maps you look over, mental preparation you make, if you've never ran one before, you'll never truly know what you're getting into.

We ran, crawled, swam, climbed, jumped - yes jumped - 18 km; under barbed wire, over berlin walls, through live wires (electric eel & electro shock therapy).
It was truly the most exhilarating and challenging event I've ever experienced. But, as Robert Frost once said, "the best way out is always through" and I agree. And after Tough Mudder I know that, with enough time, dedication, and camaraderie there's nothing I can't do.