“How does experiencing a workday shape our view of career choices?”

Stepping into a professional workplace offers more than just a peek behind the curtain—it provides an immersive experience that helps us understand the nuances of a career. My day at ‘DYS Architecture’ during Take Your Kid to Work Day opened my eyes to the realities of architectural work, revealing its collaborative, technical, and creative aspects. By participating in real-world activities, I could better visualize what it might be like to pursue this profession and gained clarity about the skills and interests I might need to succeed in it.

The day began with a guided tour of the DYS Architecture office. As I walked through the workspace, I noticed how intentional the design of the office was—open desks fostered collaboration, while private rooms were set aside for focused work and client meetings. This set the stage for a better understanding of how architects blend creativity and structure in their workspaces, not just their designs.

Next came one of the highlights of the day: a lunch and learn session. A private company presented a lecture on various types of bricks and their architectural applications. While I initially thought bricks were just a basic building material, I learned how their texture, color, and functionality influence the final aesthetic and structural integrity of buildings. It was fascinating to see how much thought and expertise go into materials that often go unnoticed in daily life.

Later, I had the chance to sit in on a client meeting. This was a interesting moment of the day. I witnessed firsthand how architects work closely with clients to align creative vision with practical needs. From discussing design adjustments to addressing client concerns, I observed the importance of clear communication, adaptability, and problem-solving in this field.

What I Learned

This experience helped me connect classroom learning to real-world application. For instance:

Technical Expertise: The lunch and learn highlighted how architects must continuously educate themselves about evolving materials and technologies.

Collaboration: Both the open office design and the client meeting emphasized teamwork and communication as essential skills.

Creativity Meets Practicality: Architecture is a balancing act—each design must be aesthetically pleasing while meeting functional and budgetary constraints.

I documented my experience in a video, capturing the highlights of the day, including snippets from the office tour, lunch and learn, and client meeting. You can watch the final video on YouTube

Thanking My Mentor

To show my gratitude, I sent a thank-you email to my mentor at DYS Architecture. (Screenshots of the email are attached below.) Their willingness to include me in their daily work, answer my questions, and share insights made this experience incredibly valuable.

Reflections on Career Choices

Experiencing a workday in architecture has reshaped how I think about career planning. It showed me the importance of exploring a profession’s day-to-day realities before committing to it. The practical skills, collaboration, and adaptability I saw in action gave me a deeper understanding of what this career entails. Whether or not I pursue architecture in the future, this experience taught me how to better evaluate potential career paths.

Through this hands-on glimpse into the professional world, I’ve taken one more step toward clarifying my long-term goals and aligning them with my passions and skills.