As most of you know I am a comic book artist, but you might not know that I have been designing floor plans and buildings since I was a little kid (I started drawing rudimentary plans around age 6). I have also designed furniture and all the renovations Dad is currently doing on our house, and our neighbours like the renovations so much that they are asking me to design something for them as well! I really enjoy making floor plans, I taught myself drafting a few years ago.

For about 6 months I have been thinking about going to school to become an architect. There are 2 schools in the eastern part of Canada, one in Halifax, Nova Scotia and one at McGill University in Montreal. I don't want to travel any further west than Quebec as I want to be close to my family. I have completed about 90% of a university degree in Fine Arts, only need a few more credits to graduate, and that will help me with architecture. Obviously I have to wait until I'm physically well enough to go, and who knows when that will be, but I am excited about the prospect of doing this in the future. The only problem I foresee is that I am not very social, and architects do have to deal with clients. Anyways I'm just interested what everyone thinks? Do you think I could do it in spite of the PTSD? I'm really excited to try.

Evie,

YOU are a remarkable person period. Weather you have PTSD or not. You are talented, brave, intelligent, and gifted.

What do you think?????? That's the important question here....

You know that most of us here will say YOU GO GIRL!!!!! But how do you feel????? I think I already know the answer, but need to hear you say it.....

Hugs.......

That's really cool, Evie! I like drawing floor plans, too. Perhaps not all architects have to deal directly with clients. I would suggest looking for websites of professional architect associations or even schools of architecture, even if they're not the ones you would want to go to. I would think some would have a place where you can email in career questions like yours. I have a friend who's an architect. He works for a city and he has to deal with his coworkers mostly. Oh, and electrical and plumbing contractors sometimes, I think. I would find out what professional job opportunities exist for someone who isn't keen on dealing with people, perhaps jobs inside a firm or even a city or something in which others do the "people work." Keep us posted!!

Do it! I'm backing you up on this! Nothing ventured nothing gained!

go for it!!! don't limit yourself on what you see as something that "might" prevent you from doing the best job you can! remember you can alwase hire a secritary! or even work for a building company who would deal with cliants rather then you.. you would just have to deal with maybe one person from the company to discuss details. Its a great idea and I would think it offers a wide range of possibilitys for you!

Yes I do think you can do this despite PTSD. Once we are healed or mostly healed I believe that with the right coping skills we can start to live our lives again.

I don't think that we can just go back to what we were like before (for you before PTSD people.) We need to fine tune our skills at managing our stress but we can look forward to going back to school or work.

You might want to consider a lighter workload, alternative living arrangements etc.. to do so..

However, I think this is very do-able once you get on your feet physically! I know I'm planning on finishing my school!

bec

if your symptoms are in control and you have lots of support....go for it. I may have to go back too with this injury...you Bec and i all in school...we sure would need supprt from each other then!!!!!!! Just get strong physically first. You can do it.....OH god...can I....ha ha I think i started to panick a bit. UUUGGGHHH

Thanks so much everyone for the support and encouragement, I'm happy to know people are behind me in this and believe in me. I find it hard to share my "dreams" publicly, and right now I consider this a dream. My main issue is not so much wondering am I smart or talented enough, but the PTSD symptoms, will I be able to interact with others, will I be able to be away from my family and live on my own, and so on. It does seem rather daunting in that sense. Maybe I can take some of the courses by correspondence, though I know I won't be able to do that for the entire degree(s). Good to know Pandora and Bec that you will be eventually going back to school too, that would be cool if we were all in school together at the same time and could therefore support one another!

Hello Evie, I think its a great idea. Over here a lot of the bigger companies would have account managers to deal with the clients. You'd be left alone to come up with the fun stuff! I think you should go for it. Whatever company you end up working with would be able to see where your talents lie.

Evie,

If this is something that you want to do, then I say go for it! There are so many things in life to do and to find something that you really want to do, that's great.

You know what you can handle and what's too much. Colleges are universities are used to tailoring schedules for their students these day. It's no big deal.

Good for you.

Lisa