God has truly blessed me!!!...and now, it's time for me to become a channel of Blessing! This blog is just my one way of thanking God. May this blog be an instrument to bless others as I've written this with prayer. May this blog inspire next generations of aspiring "Licensed Architects"
Note: Statements were only based from my own experiences including some other forgotten and unconsidered things which I thought and realized, I should have done during my way to take the exam. Some statements may not be applicable to all.
PART I. APPRENTICESHIP
There’s really such a great sense of fulfillment when you have graduated in college. But what’s next after graduation?.......APPRENTICESHIP!!!
Apprenticeship is very important and it has very vital contribution when you are going to take the board exam. Some may just consider it as a job where you can already earn money. But it’s actually more than that. This is primarily part of the learning process. Experience is what you are going to earn and this serves as your weapon in board exam.
GUIDELINES:
A.Technical Requirements
1.Logbook on Diversified Training
- Available at UAP Headquarters
- May no longer be signed by the School Dean
2.2 years experience on Architecture Diversified Training
3.Mentors ( Should be registered and Licensed Architect )
B.Job Selection
1.Location
a.Rural Area
-advantage would be, you’d be having a low cost of living while having your apprenticeship but the disadvantage is, you’d be limited to exposure in terms of actual big projects, availability of new materials and building technology.
b.Urban Area
-disadvantage would be to have a higher cost of living and surely you will gain a lot of advantages such as exposure to big projects, you would get to be updated with latest technology on building and materials. You would be aware of different building laws and you will become creative and innovative when it comes to design conceptualization because of what you see in the metro.
2.Office Scale
***Make sure there will be Licensed Architect who will be mentoring you in companies you’ll be working with.
a.Small Scale Companies
-advantages : you’ll have opportunities to possibly tackle almost all of the categories in the diversified training such as preparation of documents, design conceptualization and site supervision. You will be equipped through experience. You may also be exposed dealing with clients, workers and suppliers or other allied professions. You would really be learning a lot of things.
-disadvantage : you might experience work overload and It would be stressful.
b.Large Scale Companies
-advantage: you would create a plus point on your qualification when you came and worked from big companies.
-disadvantage: you might not be learning other categories of diversified training. You might be assigned to only limited tasks and you might not get good experience you wanted.
OTHER TIPS & THINGS TO CONSIDER:
1.Don’t think of the salary as your primary consideration.
2.Don’t let yourself stocked on jobs where you are not learning.
3.Make an outline of projects you were involved in, having their descriptions and dates during your apprenticeship.
4.Find jobs where you can possibly tackle all categories in Diversified Training.
5.Be updated of current issues regarding architecture not only in the Philippines but also around the world.
6.Be updated of the latest methods and technologies on building construction and materials.
7.Learn and be aware of existing Building laws and other laws including Professional Practice and ethics.
8.When you’re on site or you’re just given the chance to visit construction site, take that opportunity to learn.
9.Learn how to deal with people properly, may it be a worker, foreman , suppliers, your boss or your client.
10.If you have the chance to supervise project, show authority but still always give respect for you to gain respect. In that way, you would be able to establish good working environment.
11.Humble yourself if you do not know something during construction. You may ask even your foreman, not to degrade yourself, but for you to become more competitive because you are learning.
12.While having your apprenticeship, consider to have savings in preparation to board exam because you will be spending a lot during your review. Financial problem may bother you during review and if you have enough savings, It would be a great help in focusing with your review.
13.Have some investments on Books like RA9266, PD1096 and other reference and review materials.
PART II. THE ARCHITECT LICENSURE EXAMINATION
You have already finished your Apprenticeship, and after that, now what? Are you ready now to take the Board? Do you already have the guts to face it? This starts now the real challenge of becoming a full-pledged Licensed Architect......BOARD EXAM.
There are a lot of examinees who are afraid to take the board exam. There were even cases where only few more days to go before the exam, they’d still come up with decision of backing out. A lot of architecture graduates who will be taking the board exam think that it will be so difficult. There could be different individual reasons, but it would just fall down only to ONE BIG REASON....NOT READY!!!LACK OF PREPARATION!!! Well I think there’s also ONE BIG SOLUTION for that, EQUIPPED YOURSELF / BE PREPARED!!!
There are actually 4 stages if you are going to take the board exam. First is the Review Process, second is the Board Exam Proper, third is the Waiting for the Result and lastly the Release of the Result. All are important and you've got to learn how to deal with these stages but I would just like to focus on the review process which I consider a very critical stage.
A.REVIEW PROCESS
1.Self - assessment
- Make sure of your decision that you are really going to take the exam because in this process, you will be devoting your time, you’ll be spending money and of course your effort.
- Prepare all requirements needed in application For the exam ahead of time so you can focus on review.
- Settle all issues with your work and boss/mentor. Be open and tell that you are going to take the exam so you can have arrangement with them regarding your review and schedules.
- Know yourself in terms on how to handle the review. You should know if you are that type who can do review and work at the same time or you are that person who needs to focus only on review. This will help you to decide with regards to your job.
2.Mind Setting
- just be optimistic and never entertain failure. Always think Positive.
- Have this thought that you are already an ARCHITECT, what you only need is to get that license.
- Set your mind that you will take the board exam. You will surely have a different lifestyle during review but in this way, you’d be able to do what you need to do. You have to be focus on your study.
3.Motivation & Preparation
- Prepare yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, financially and spiritually.
a. Physically
- Eat healthy food with good balance diet.
- Eat on time as possible.
- Do exercise. It’s a one way to release pressure and stress.
- Have enough rest or sleep. Take a regular break.
- Remember that you won’t just have to feed your mind, but also feed your body. A healthy mind and body will also be your weapon in this process.
b. Emotionally
- Never keep or bury your emotions. This may cause illness.
- Open up what you feel. Have someone to talk to if you feel like you have low confidence. Get out sometimes to feel the air. Don’t push yourself too hard in reviewing. Learn how to make an outlet of your negative feelings. Just simply Pray. That would be a great help.
- Call your family and friends, let them know the things you’re going through.
- Lighten up the atmosphere through humor during hard times.
- Put a smile in your face as you fill your surrounding with good vibes. This will create good studying environment. But do not laugh always during review, People around you might think you’ve gone crazy.LOL. Just Enjoy! Enjoy yourself while reviewing.
- If you are into a relationship. You might have issues with this. This might be contributing factor in making you not focus to your review. You can never control your partner’s behavior, but you can control your reactions to them. I don’t believe you can’t help with your feelings. That is immaturity. It is still a decision to make and you should learn how to decide what can be best for you. Instead treating things you think that would bring you down, why don’t make it the other way around. Turn those threatening things as your inspiration and motivation for you to become the best that you can be.
c. Mentally
- Do not over do your review sessions.
- Try this in reviewing, 1 hour reading or viewing of review materials then have 15 min. break and so on. This would help not to be stressful in reviewing. Do not force yourself if you think that topics you are reviewing are no longer coming in to your mind. Take a break also for a while.
- Don’t just read topics without understanding. If you do not know the topic, search for it. Do not let the day end without knowing it.
d. Financially
- As stated above, even during apprenticeship, consider having your own savings already prior to your board exam. This will give support in providing your review fees and other materials.
e. Spiritually
- Have trust and faith. Not just trust and faith to God but of Course,also to yourself.
- Despite of negative feelings you will be having during review, just call unto Him and surely He will answer you. PRAYER!!! It’s one of your weapons to Survive and overcome the test.
- Don’t hide that you are going to take the exam, I advice to tell it to your Family and friends. The more people who will be praying for you,would make a big positive impact.
4.Management
-In your review, let’s say, you have four to five months to review. You can never use all of those days to review and even in each day, you will never get all day to read review materials. That will never happen ‘coz you’ve got other things to do. Study the subjects one day at a time. Managing your time is very important. Use your time very wisely. Make schedules and stick to it as possible. Learn how to manage and organize everything as you go through with your review.
OTHER TIPS & STRATEGIES:
1.You have to know yourself where you can achieve comfort while reviewing. Planning and making strategies can be one way.
2.Don’t just consider studying ALONE. Conduct Group studies or at least a partner whom you can share and learn topics. There would be an exchange of learnings and even encouragement and empowerment to one another. You would be able to know from them what you still don’t know and vice versa. It would be beneficial to all.
3.If you are into any discussions or talks, don’t ever be so hypocrite that you think you already know everything. It’s like a cup, full of water and when that cup is added with more water, it would just overflow. Same thing if we think that way, information can never be fed into our mind. It’s useless , so learn how to listen and accept things other people may say to you whether it’ll be information or pieces of advice.
4.As I have experienced, reviewing is boring. You can ‘t really have your studies all day. You have to strategize how to kill boredom. Take regular breaks. Watch movies for a while, do something that would make you feel relax. Reviewing is not a punishment, you just have to make your own way to enjoy it.
5.Do not lie down to bed while reading. If possible, find location where you can’t see your bed so you won’t be tempted to sleep.
6.At night, if you have read your review materials, don’t go to bed and sleep immediately,‘coz you’ll have hard time getting that sleep. The things you have read will still be running into your mind so better do something that will somehow divert your thoughts before going to bed.
7.Make sure and never let the day end without reading any review materials. You’d surely feel guilty. Read as many topic as you can.
8.Remember that you are no longer in school. You are not competing with others, in this case, you are competing with yourself so try to establish and discipline yourself.
9.Find conducive place where you can review well.
10.You can post on your walls topics so you can recall them easily.
11.Be RESOURCEFUL on reviewing. Don’t just stick on books. The approach of exam now is innovative in a sense that questions can be taken from different sources. I know this is difficult but you really have to set your mind on what the examiner is thinking. Use other media, read articles from magazines, and of course, use the Power of the INTERNET. Browse sites where you can download materials, quizzes and other practice exams. You can also watch YOUtube where you can watch topics on Architecture, buildings, architects, methods of construction and new materials.
12.Socialize and be friends to fellow examinees whom you can gain not just friendship but also things and ways how to get updated on issues about exams.
13.Have enough confidence that you can do it. Always think that you are going to pass. But not too high that might make you careless during exam.
14.Be excited because you will now be an architect. This is a way to lift your moral.
15.PRAY!PRAY!PRAY!...But of course, also do your part. I want to share this quote from an article I've read...
“Pray like there’s no one to help you and Study like there’s no prayer to help you.”
I have also this insight from the main message of preaching I've heard during Sunday service in our church.
“Don’t ever ask for something if you are not ready to receive it. ”
-It would be like wanting to have a car but since you don’t know how to drive and you haven't taken driving lessons, You will never be deserving to have one. That is also the same when you take the board exam. You will never get that Architect's license and you don’t also deserve to have it if you won’t do something to prepare yourself and if you won't be ready for it.
As I end this blog, I would also like to share what Arch. Maundy Florendo(our review facilitator in Brownbauhaus) has told us for motivation and encouragement,...Feel and claim it, that You are now an ARCHITECT..though for now, you can just claim it only by heart 'coz u haven't passed the board yet,But still, you're already an Architect ‘coz you are capable of being one, it's just that you don't have that license. It’s like a person who knows how to drive is automatically called a DRIVER. But to fully perform his job and be qualified, he must have his license to be called LICENSED DRIVER. So to all examinees, that’s how simply it is. Pass the exam and get that license, for you to become full-pledged LICENSED ARCHITECT.
Note: Statements were only based from my own experiences including some other forgotten and unconsidered things which I thought and realized, I should have done during my way to take the exam. Some statements may not be applicable to all.
I HOPE THIS WILL HELP...GOD BLESS TO ALL FUTURE FILIPINO ARCHITECTS!!! GOD SPEED EVERYONE!!!
