So, here I am : a senior in the middle of my last semester of college. Sometimes I just stop and think about what I've learned these past 4 years and I realize that not only have I learned a lot about interior design, but I've learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of achieving. Here's what I've learned so far...
1.) No stranger can tell me what I can or cannot do.
It seems like from the get-go I've been told I would not make it in this program. First instance: high school career exploration days. A lady from a firm in Omaha came and talked to us about her work as an interior designer and what her typical day is like. I, of course, absorbed her every word like a sponge and could not have been more fascinated. After hearing she attended ISU for her interior design degree, I decided to go up and talk to her about what the program was like. I started by saying I was planning to go to ISU to study interior design. Her response completely shattered my dreams. She told me that it was "extremely difficult" and that "you probably won't even get in". Really? Did she just say that? After being hurt for a while, I came to realize that she did not know me, my drive, and my passion for interior design. Conclusion I came to: I will prove her wrong and will make a name of myself. Second instance: acceptance to the program. After a long first year of college of design core programs, I had turned in my portfolio. I remember the feeling in the pit of my stomach I had when I handed it in and walked out of the room. My future was literally in their hands. I waited for the day they sent out acceptance emails like a child waits for Christmas. But I just couldn't figure out why in the world I still had that same feeling in the pit of my stomach. The day came... and went.... and no letter of acceptance (or rejection) came my way. Did they lose my portfolio? Did I not get in? What do I do now?! I was absolutely devastated. I felt as though all the hard work, sweat, and tears that went into my whole first year was a complete waste of time. And what made me even more mad was the fact that none of it gauged your ability to produce interior design work. I was a mess for the next two weeks. I started searching other options at Iowa State, researching other interior design programs around the country... it was terrible, I was miserable, and feeling completely depressed and defeated. Then came the morning I was supposed to have a phone meeting with someone from the Art Institute in Minneapolis. My cell phone rang...and I had no desire to answer it. I didn't want to think any more about what was going on. I needed a break. Another call. Now I was mad. "I don't wanna talk to you! I don't wanna think about it!" kept running through my head with each ring. They left another voicemail. Ugh... fine, I'll listen to it at least. First one : "Hi this is ____ from the Art Institute..." That was all I had to hear, so skipped the rest of the message. The second message however, was completely unexpected. "Hi, this is ____ from the College of Design at Iowa State University. We're calling to let you know you've been accepted into the interior design program." I lost it. I was screaming, crying, and shaking from excitement. I was a mess and probably in no condition to drive, but that's just what I did. I drove first to mom's office then mom came with me to dad's office to spread the news. We celebrated that night by going to dinner. That day will stick with me as one of the best days of my life. That was also the day I told myself that I was going to show them why I was meant to be there in the first place.
2.) Time Management is Key
You know that you have to have passion for something when it requires so much of your time. I remember back to projects in 102 and thinking "how is this all going to get done?!?" I can recall times when I felt so overwhelmed by my list of things to do, that I just lost it... then realized I was wasting time crying and would get back to work. And that was back when I didn't have a job. As I was taking a break from this last hospitality project I was working on, I had called mom. I was telling her everything I had to do : "Well first I have to finish the second level of the spa, then I have to export all those floor plans into pdfs so I can work on the lighting plan while I get another render going in Revit, so that I can edit the render as soon as that's done, then get boards started. And when I get the boards printed, then I can work on the documentation stuff." Crazier part is that I had an art history exam the day before the project was due so I had that on top of my list, and two part time jobs. I had finally figured out how to manage my time.... even if it meant I stayed up until 3 in the morning for a week straight... while I was sick.
3.) So, you've spent countless hours on your work... be proud, and don't be afraid to sell it!
Our first interior design project was the Barcelona Pavilion. Basically it was a slab of cement we were told to create whatever kind of space on it we wanted. Great! I remember working on it, not liking what I had done, scrapping it, and starting over. Countless times. I finally came up with something that I personally had liked, but (skepticism) did not think would go over well at the critique. I remember being so scared. I shook while I presented and was scared to hear what the jurors would say. They loved it! It couldn't have gone better--nothing bad was said. I was in shock. But, I stopped and thought about how much time I had spent and I had personally liked what I had done, so why was I so afraid? In the real world, you can't sell a design if you're not sold on it. If you spend countless hours of your life on something, be proud of it and be excited to tell people about it!
4.) I Can Do Things I Never Thought I'd Do
For a person with travel anxiety (especially with flying), I had been dreading the Toronto field trip since I was accepted in the program. The thought of flying seriously makes me feel sick to my stomach, and the thought of flying without those I feel most comfortable with (Will and my family) made it ten times worse. The day came... it was inevitable. The flights were easy and Toronto was absolutely amazing. I loved the city! The flight home (especially the last leg) is when I realized that I had survived the the trip I had been dreading for so long.... and had fun! I can't even describe the way I felt watching out the window as we began landing in Des Moines. It was so overwhelming and I was so proud of myself. While yes, traveling is still not my favorite thing to do, I've learned that I'm not going to let it stop me from seeing different places in the world. I hope to someday be completely anxiety free and to be able to fly to Rome with Will.
5.) I'm Afraid of the Future... but I'm Determined
I'm a planner. That's just what I am. So, the fact that I don't have everything figured out after graduation really scares me. However, I'm not going to settle for anything less than what I really want in life. I want to do hospitality design--restaurants, spas, hotels.... it's a blast! I do have to admit that it's exciting to see where I'm going to end up!
6.) I Have the Greatest Friends and Family Supporting Me
I just wanted to say thank you to the people in my life who are there encouraging me. They were there when the road got a little rocky these past few years in the program as well as life outside school. They helped me get over all the hurdles thrown at me and they also helped me celebrate my successes. Thank you again! You don't know how much you mean to me!
-Amanda
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