My Expectations & Experience

As a 2nd year masters student, this is the first semester in which the program allots for true electives. The first year provided a good general base of knowledge and skill sets for the profession of landscape architecture. Although many of the classes do incorporate elements of real world application, ROE is the first opportunity to receive true hands on experience. This first hand experience is invaluable for reinforcing the information learned in class, as well as promoting skill sets that can not be learned in the classroom.

Several other elements of the class attracted me to it and I am sure there are even more that I will not be able to appreciate fully until the end of the semester. The ability to effectively interact with public officials will be a crucial aspect for most all landscape architects. In addition, the structure of the class allows for interdisciplinary work and I am positive I will be intimately working with planners, architects and other professionals throughout my career. Learning how to successfully work together is important, as are the new perspectives and ideas that different majors will provide. Finally, having the opportunity to collaborate and use our skills to better the lives of others has a satisfaction that can not be achieved through simply earning an “A” on a project.

It is my hope that the experience of this class will provide me with techniques for effective communication and interaction with both the community and public officials. Also, I would like to possess a better understanding of the processes involved in seeing an idea through from conception to implementation within the public realm. Overall, I hope the class will provide me with a positive base that will help reinforce my commitment to civic responsibilities throughout my career.

In addition to my practical skill sets that I have been developing over the past year in school (drawing, Photoshop, etc), I would like to think I bring to the table the ability to work well with people. I have a fair amount of experience and also enjoy interacting with a variety of types and ages of people—from mentoring young children as a ‘Big Sister’ and working as a camp counselor to holding facilitation workshops in college and providing training to colleagues in a prior job.