Marianne Cadio
First year finished! I can't believe the first year of my undergrad career has already been completed. Though I definitely won't try to repeat the heavy all-nighter experience again, I learnt so much in just these past few months and have definitely learned much more about myself than I could've in any other environment.
ARCHITECTURE
I’ve always enjoyed school regardless of the content I was learning, but finally being able to focus my academic endeavors on just architecture, something I am passionate about, has changed my stance on school to something much more than just enjoyment. I can now pull all-nighters (not that I should be doing them) without much dismay, not because I enjoy the sleep-deprivation, but because I enjoy what I am doing in class so much that I don’t feel sleepy while doing the work. For the work itself, while I’ve tried my best to produce quality work and satisfy my professors, I’ve also pushed myself to try different styles from what I’m comfortable with in order to become a better architecture student. The year has also taught me what my strong points are in architecture. As well as what I need to work more on (team work).
VOLUNTEER
Though the first semester was a rush of me trying to find volunteer opportunities in random locations, from Habitats for Humanity to Findlay Market, in the second semester I picked up a cafe assistant position at the 86 Cafe, located right off campus. The first semester experiences were definitely worthwhile and ones I won’t forget but I simply can’t say they hold a candle to my second semester work/volunteering. At the cafe I learned so much, from customer service in the food industry, to how coffee drinks are made and categorized. This opportunity has also given me many marvelous opportunities including new friends, and getting scouted for a modeling gig. While I will be moving to the sister location next semester, I’m still expecting more wonderful opportunities and hope to maintain the connections I initially made last semester.
SIDE QUESTS
Besides architecture, college has really awakened my curiosity. I now find myself actively trying to learn new things such as multi camera production (MPRO2050), photography (thanks to the photo studios in DAAP), stone masonry (My trip this summer to Normandy) and fashion show management (through DAAP Fash2023)! I hope to keep on expanding my skill set in the following years through more classes or opportunities provided by DAAP and the University in general.
TRAVEL
Lastly, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to travel to many wonderful locations, opportunities that I am sure won’t end after this year. During my first semester I was given the opportunity to accompany some School of Art students to New York where we explored museums with professors and got exclusive access through Art shows and auctions. During my winter break I had the amazing chance to go to Japan where I reached out to architecture firms and made connections in Tokyo, and then went to the deep countryside of Fukushima to learn more about Japanese winter traditions, which I had never experienced before.
While this year is one I enjoyed and don’t regret, I hope to be able to focus more on myself in the upcoming years. Starting next spring I will be on my first co-op (hopefully in Japan) which will definitely teach me a lot about the field I am stepping into as well as about living alone in a different country. I also hope to keep my 4.0 GPA and academic rigor regardless of the new semester and new changes in my life, whatever they may be.
