For those who took unconventional paths, what would you tell your 19y old self ?
Hey, I really need answers from professional or wise students, bonus point if you’re from France.
19f based in Paris (really can’t leave there), and I’m currently pursuing an art history and archaeology degree, I’ve chosen this path as I’ve been refused in architecture due to my grades (around 14 last year and 8 this year) but I was managing two loss, depression, and I didn’t liked this degree anyway ngl.
So now I may start an anthropology course or an art degree with actual practice, so more in my ADN (warning, I’m not treating architecture as a hobby, even if the aesthetic counts, I’m drawn by the technicals but also the MATERIALITY) as I’ve been rejected again, so twice.
I feel like I’m stubbornly choosing a path that doesn’t want me back, but that’s all I wanna do with all its flaws, even the administrative shit (even tho im praying for the come back of creativity). I don’t wanna get any degree just to have a secure job as I know I’ll end up bitter about it, even jealous and envious of future architects.
I’ve a few experiences already, I’ve renovated a building hall for my neighbourhood, and my cultural heritage is linked to architecture anyway (am I trying to sell myself outa there ? Bhahahahah sorry)
I just feel so frustrated, cuz architecture in Paris is so selective and it’s like you need to sell your kidney to be accepted, but I still wanna pursue it even if I have to wait years.
I just wanna know if I’m being stupidly stubborn and should I just change of plans ?I know architects who didn’t have a straight path like Tadao Ando or Diebedo Kere, but they are starchitects who answered to their cultural/social context, and it was way much easier to enter this field before anyway. Today everything is so calculated and complicated UGHHH
Am I behind ? If I’m accepted next year I’ll be like 20 so probably ending my studies at 26-27 as I wanna specialised myself in a lot of fields (I’m thinking about BMO, earthy materials, AI ? But I’m not really fan of it, well, not at all)
As I’m tired of waiting, I plan to start my own projects too, but in which direction, for what ? To who ? An architecture school was supposed to give me the structure for these types of questions.
I’m clearly fed up as the path is long and I haven’t started anything yet, just hope I’m not making a mistake and not playing with my future, it’ll be a waste as thanks God I had the chance to be educated.
So yh, I need stories from normal humans please, I need to know if I’m fucking up my future.
Thanks for reading my novel