Patricia feels like she always knew that she wanted to be involved with design. As a child, she was always drawing, usually pictures related to clothes, and she also sewed quite a lot with her grandmother. This originally prompted her to pursue apparel design.
However, Patricia had what she calls a “mid-college crisis” and had to take some time off. When she returned, she decided that fashion was not an industry that was good for her mental health. At the time, a friend in one of her art classes was thinking about switching to architecture, and that inspired Patricia to also make a switch.
Patricia remembers helping her mother with a renovation to increase square footage in her home, and later with building a home for her grandmother, so she felt she should have known that she would be interested in that aspect. Her first job after college was doing drafting for a custom closet and storage company.
Today, Patricia works for Ann Sacks, and also has a side-hustle teaching dance. Listen to the episode to learn more about Patricia’s career path, how she ended up teaching dance over Zoom, and how she found the Young Architect community.
What You’ll Hear on This Episode:
- What inspired Patricia to go into design
- Patricia’s college experience
- What Patricia did after college
- How Patricia’s non-linear positions built her skills
- How dance has played a role in Patricia’s career
- Patricia’s other business teaching dance over Zoom
- How Patricia found the Young Architect community
- How COVID has changed the Young Architect experience for Patricia
- How it’s been for Patricia to balance all of her projects
- Patricia’s advice for aspiring architects
- What Patricia knows today that she didn’t know then
- The book that changed everything for Patricia
- Patricia’s favorite resource, product, or gadget
- Patricia’s best time saving trick
- The best way to connect with Patricia
Top Three Takeaways from This Episode:
- Don’t be afraid to switch paths if that’s better for you.
- Chase your niche.
- Lean into who you are.
Patricia’s Advice for Aspiring Architects:
“I guess just – whatever it is that you have the passion for in school, don’t lose that. Architecture is such a wide world. There’s so many jobs, so many opportunities, and so many little individual sectors. So if there’s a niche that you’re really into, chase that niche, because there’s a place for it and there’s somebody who wants your expertise on it.”
Favorite Quotes:
“When you really kind of lean into who you are and what drives you, you’ll find so much more success that way.” – What Patricia knows now that she didn’t know then.
“I highly recommend Seven Seasons by Joshua McFadden if y’all are into cooking.” –The book that changed everything for Patricia
“For me it’s – I wouldn’t know what to do without my cast-iron skillet, and I wouldn’t know what to do without my sewing machine.” –Patricia on her favorite resource, product, or gadget
“Oh, God, it’s the planner. Get a planner.” –Patricia on her best time-saving trick
Resources Mentioned on the Show:
