...and I will be done and over with the CRAZY CRAZY Semester one of Part 2, then I will be down to three more semesters. University of Malaya's programme could be described as liberal, detail and DAMN HECTIC WEYH! Our credit hours are an average of 18 until 5th Year! Do not underestimate UM's Part 2, there's a reason why it is RIBA certified, like how UITM program is, you must maintain and survive, get A's if possible...
Last week was my class trip to do research and understand the public housing sector of Singapore. It was absolutely amazing, but that..is a different blogpost altogether. It may seem like fun, UM's sponsored trips here and there, it is extremely good that we were exposed to so many examples...but the cost is not only the money and time, but also the expectations.
A few weeks ago, my brother who is currently sitting for his SPM asked for my opinion on what he should do after his SPM's over with..it was either ACCA, QS or Petroleum Engineering....out of these three, I told him to not be a Quantity Surveyor..why? because my brother ni ada potential untuk hidup glamour, thus QS for me as compared to being a crazy loony Architect, could be a little too relaxing for him. ACCA? I told him, if he wanted to work in the office, facing tons of paperwork, then he should, because ACCA's unlike QS or Architects, or even Petroleum Engineer who spend half of their career time on site, out in the harsh environment, just duduk dalam office.
However, I strongly suggested that he takes up Petroleum Engineering...Why? because this brother of mine is adventurous, and I feel the life of an Engineer suits him best. He will be able to live abroad and work at multinational companies...yes ACCA pun boleh, but then I asked him..."Do you want to be stuck in the office or be outside of the walls?", as one of the professional-to-be in the family..it was just my sincere opinion.
Personally, I HATE it when I am stuck in the office doing my drawings in my compartment. Dahlah claustrophobic...(Yes, I am afraid and stressed out of small confine spaces, especially if partitions are all around me... ) The only reason why I gave Part 2 a go, was because IF I decided to become an Architect, I want to be a volunteer Architect, or an architect that works out in the field by the environment, instead of the ones yang jadi kuli dari 9 pagi sampai 12 tgh malam terperuk dalam office. No, that is not my 'jiwa", I could get sick at that rate of working lifestyle.
This is how I want to work!! With a view and an open space!!
Earlier today, I found out that my second Degree part 2 could not be converted into a Masters program, and if I want to have that qualification, I will have to quit and enroll next year...umm..NOT....DOESN'T MATTER REALLY...because kerja sama teruk jugak. No difference. I do not suggest part 2 to people who are thinking of being in the creative industry...Go take a Master in Graphic communication or something..Part 2 is meant for people who wants to be in the construction industry, because it is all about Rules and Regulations...dealing with Authority and sorts.
Some people take-up Part 2 to get respect because we WANT to be in the industry, but the truth is, we just want to get it over with, get the black and white..and move-on! Tak payah fikir sebab nak habis kan belajar is because degree part 1...then sayang tak ambik part 2..bla bla bla..tu semua defined by the society...you are not less smarter or less respected for not taking up Part 2..dah ambik part 2 pulak, bukan semua orang boleh jadi Architect gaji RM50k sebulan!!! Starting je RM3k-RM3.5k..Naik pangkat jadi Project or Design Architect, bolehlah fetch RM8,000...tapi jangan harap nak balik lah.
So just think..some people they study simpler courses like Business or MasComm, but their salary is just about the same as an Architect who claims to be a professional boleh sign..nak dapat qualification to sign boleh...be prepared to go through crazy working hours and project deadlines, sitting for the final Professional Paper (part 3)..then you sign..by that time, umur pun dah 40 lah kot.
Ada sanggup?
The life of an Architect is this, a bunch of trapped idealistic people in very bad clothing (well, at least Malaysian Architects are..we lack a sense of style)...and when we are idealistic, most of our ideas are a bit too raw for the local authority. We stay-up a lot,grow old faster,wears black, go for Art and Architecture seminars, sometimes in KL or Singapore, or maybe other parts of the world...it seems glamorous, well the glamour parts only comes in after a "gila pulun" long period of time, then maybe, just maybe...you will have the time to treat yourself at nice places.
To be an Architect is not as easy as 1,2,3 that even my brother who is taking up ACCA have more time than I do, I need an extra few hours in a day..to sleep (typing this post under the condition of belum tidur for the past 36-hours..)... You don't tell Architects to just go ahead take-up Part 2 then part 3..kalau mudah..dah belambak dah AR. kat Malaysia ni haaa...senior-senior dah ramai Ar. The fact is though, it is not easy...seems like we are only drawing boxes, but know that every line a Part 2 and 3 Architect Draws, he is mumbling UBBL and Contract law by his lips, while the hand glides across the ruler to form a shape...
If you have an Architecture friend who is complaining or whining via twitter or FB status, know that..he wishes that he could shut-up and change profession!
My ambition personally is to become a Creative Director, and I see Part 2 as my platform to create a visual media Portfolio so that later on I could either take-up a master program related to Visual Arts (like maybe Photojournalism) and seek my love for an adventurous profession...
An Architecture education could be two-things, your gateway to be part of any profession of the creative industry or...your gateway to draught 24/7 but it ensures you pay your bills. So, choose your path... the profession is a respected white-collar profession..with that sort of qualification, you just need a few working experience and be whatever you want to be..OR you can end-up be a project Architect, and pay your bills..on time, why? Because Architect tak pernah ada masa nak spend duit, so duit sentiasa ada nak bayar bill..sebab tu orang kata Architect ni "kaya"...sekian.
P.S:Maaflah,,,ni post lepas geram. Jadi Architect ni seronok..tapi seronok tu 15% je.
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