An Outro

I was on the phone yesterday with a client and he was giving me info that I needed to write down. As I rummaged all over my desk I said "One sec, I need to find a pen." He scoffed (the laughing kind of scoff) and said "You're an Architect and don't you have a pen?" I stopped right there and laughed out loud, reminding myself of the name of this blog and how I am actually an architect now and how I should have a pen at all times! It also reminded me that I needed closure from my Intern self.
I have been licensed for over a month now. I have the certificate from the State, I have my stamp, I have the business cards, but I still feel like an Intern sometimes. I don't know what I expected; fanfare? a new sense of self? to stamp a drawing immediately? I don't know. The stamping part was offered, but I was too nervous a week out of the gate...The truth is, not much has really changed - it's kind of like getting married, one day you aren't and the next day you are. Just like growing into an Intern, I'll grow into being an expert. I thought that testing was the beginning of the journey, but really it's the license that's the beginning.
The license did give me a great deal of certainty in the career I have chosen and confidence that I can do it and be successful. Those of you who have passed any of these exams know how accomplished it can make you feel.
Now comes the fear of doing it wrong, interpreting the code incorrectly and being sued! Gary (still my desk neighbor in the new office) likes to remind me that I can be sued now. But with that fear comes an ever-changing field that has more to offer than one person can hold.
So, what now? Well, now that I have watched all of House of Cards and all of Orange is the New Black, it's back to the books! I was offered a spot in Shive-Hattery's Leadership Development Program. A huge honor! As my boss opened the offer packet to the reading list I laughed and said "well, at least I know what I am doing in what I thought was free time". Ha!
With change comes other change, right?
Since I have "found my pen," it's time to move on. I'm happy to announce that Shive-Hattery has developed a new blog where everyone can learn and hear from others in our growing company. I'll still be around, but I'm excited to hear what else is going on! You can check that out here.


Thank you to everyone for listening to me and helping me along :)


My desk pretty much looks the same as it did in my introduction (new location aside), but if you look closely, there's a pen!