Should I follow my dream, or pick a better dream to follow?

[ZzKingz]

Okay, this is kind of a long post. Bear with me, ok? :)

I want to be an architect. It's interested me since I was seven. People have told me it's not worth it and I listened to them, but I always wander back to architecture because it's a perfect combination of art, design, math, and construction. I used to spend hours and hours as a kid building with Legos, making houses on the Sims, and playing Minecraft in creative mode just to build houses. I can't think of anything more fulfilling than watching one of my designs be constructed on top of a hill and being able to walk around in it when it's done.

So architecture is my dream job. But here's the icy reality of it: everyone wants to be an architect, the training and certification is ridiculous, 99% of what you do is CAD and drawing electrical outlets, the housing market is the first to go when the economy crashes, and architects basically get paid in broken dreams and unemployment checks. Only the best of the best get to be like Frank Lloyd Wright. It basically sucks unless you're really, really good at it and have a lot of rich friends. I just don't want to be unhappy if it doesn't work out.

But I don't want to believe that. Part of me wants to try anyway. There's a chance I can be successful at it and enjoy my job. If I work really hard at it and get certified from a really good graduate architecture school like Yale, then I might have a chance if I'm creative enough. But there's no safety net if it doesn't work out. A degree in architecture isn't like a degree in engineering, where you still qualify for a ton of high paying jobs if the one you wanted doesn't work out. All you can really do with an architecture degree is be an architect.

Again, I just want to be satisfied with my job and my life. I don't want to make a big mistake by doing what I'm passionate about. It's not like I can't see myself having a different job, but this is what I want most.

tl;dr: I want to be an architect, but it's a really shitty job unless you're really famous and lucky. Should I try anyway or should I lower my standards and go for something else

[unknownuser]

I'm kind of in a similar situation; I love everything design and design related: graphic design, fashion, interior design, architecture, photography, you name it... but it is so hard to be really successful at it and a good future isn't guaranteed... :(

[Typhlosion]

Contacts. To get big in business, you will need contacts, as many as you can get. If you make your presence all-around, it's likely that you'll be the one they first think of if they need an architect (or similar work an architect can do). Be polite, slip your business card here and everywhere.

Skill. As architecture is much more of a human and artistic skill, you will need to be the best if you want the best. Even if unemployed, work for a beautiful project on your own on your free time to impress possible contractors. No example is better than examples. And no example is better than your Magnum Opus.

While on the CAD idea, you're right: everything is CAD now, it's so reliable. This can both work in favor and against you: Are you eager on learning and using cad?
Yes? Great. Now that you have CAD skills in architecture, as a back-up plan, why don't you develop your CAD skills out of architecture? Why?...where you still qualify for a ton of high paying jobs if the one you wanted doesn't work out.
No? Sorry, computers are the future.

I also want to add: Yale is a great university with a greater name. That name and a great recommendation letter can give you a very nice boost.

It's not being famous and lucky, but having contacts and less luck than you imagine. The success of a career is what you make out of yourself.

I wish you good luck! ;) Man I've been hearing this from day one.

[Hazard7707]

I don't know much about architects but if you're really passionate about architecture and you think you have a decent chance of making it as an architect, I say go for it! Follow your dreams. The most important thing in life is to be happy and to be happy, you have to do the things you like, which in your case is architecture. It's better to have a job that you enjoy, even if it doesn't pay too well, than to have a job that pays well but makes you absolutely miserable. Anyways whatever you choose to do, good luck man! ;)

[Human]

There's always gonna be a need for architects that's for sure

[Miserabilia]

I feel the same way about lots of carreers!
What I want to do is just get a steady good job that I don't hate, but I acn still get a nice income etc, meanwhile trying to get that dreamjob.
Not going for it all the way, because you might end up dissapointed.

[Elvalight]

If you know that's what you want then keep trying till you get there. Better to be poor and happy then rich and successful, but unhappy.
I want to be in some form of government, and I've always dreamed of it. I'm going to keep trying till I get there, because I'm not going to waste my talent for things like success.
If it's your passion, go with it. We sure need people like you, I've never been into building and we sure need builders who actually enjoy building. Maybe you'll make something huge and important, who knows! Never let anyone tell you that you can't do it, because if there's a will, there is always a way.

[ZzKingz]

It's just not like other low-paying jobs like being an artist or a designer, where you struggle financially but still have fun doing your job.. It's more like you struggle financially and do really crappy tedious shit, and the fun comes later if you're truly great at it and are lucky enough to be famous. It's either both or neither.

[Cjk_20]

You should always follow your dream. If you work hard in the end you will make it.:yes:

[Xandle]

Overall, you need to do what will make you the happiest, all things considered? Isn't that what life's about? The question I think you need to ask yourself is would I rather have a reliable steady income and security in something I don't really love, in exchange for knowing you can support yourself and potentially a family, or go all out and try and get it all. For me, I'd rather put it all on the line for the chance to do what you love, but having a reliable income is a perfectly respectable choice.

[Cognizant]

While normally I do encourage others to shoot for the stars and follow what you aspire no matter what, it's sometimes best to just take the windy road to your dreams. In other words, I think that yes, eventually you should get into a career that you love with a passion, but don't be afraid to try other things out if you're not too sure about the career path and wither the good outweighs the bad.

For example- I see my future in the railroad, but I'm not too sure about it because of the potential drawbacks that might discourage me (weird schedules, physically demanding, low pay). I see myself trying out other categories I might be interested in, such as culinary or education and see if the job is a better suit for me. Hell, I might even just contact Caltrain and shadow a conductor for a day or two and see if I like it or not.

So the thematic premise of this tangent I'm going on is that I recommend experimenting a little. If you're not too sure if you want to handle the hurdles of your dream career, look into your other interests. All of us here are young enough to be able to do that and still have your life ahead of you. If you decide that you're willing to put forth the effort and give it your all, then by all means go for it! (: