Having it easy? Not really... just not making it look difficult.

One of my colleagues slipped his tongue and made a very subversive
remark at me yesterday. Saying that I had it easy, because my dad's an
architect, and that we have a firm, and that I've been trained by him
ever since I was a freshman in HS.



Yes, given those comparative advantages to majority of my colleagues
and peers, from the third-person's shallow point-of-view, its so much
easier for me to eke out my career path. But really now? You have no
idea.



As for being an architect's kid? Or any kid who's following in his/her
parent's footsteps for that matter, Ask anyone in the same position and
you'll see that the blessing/perk of having an in-house mentor is
coupled with tremendous pressure and strain. Countless days and nights
have been driven by fiery, humbling personal critique. But the one
thing that will keep you pushing hard is love. Soon, your love for your
profession will only equal your love for your parents. And that's when
the 2 become intertwined, never to be ripped apart.



Soon, the desire to please your parents disappears, and becomes your
genuine, honest desire to push the envelope and bring things to the
next level. To correct what's wrong, to change things, and to drive
others as well.



Soon, the desire to get plugged into the corporate world's comfortable
matrix disappears, and gets replaced with your desire to slug it out in
the real market, strike out on your own and fight your battles beyond
your home borders. Knowing that the corporate world's comforts will
never bring you artistic and professional independence, freedom and a
name.



And when all this happens, along with your own realization that, you
can actually do this and hang with the boys, and when resources meet
capabilities, properly matched with opportunities, you can only feel
your own desire to meet these circumstances, with your best, truest
effort.



Many have tried, failed for lack of desire and ability, faltered, got
their priorities sidetracked, abandoned and quit, and very few have
truly succeeded.  But ask anyone if they regret it, and they will
say that the ride was worth it.



Truly, much is expected from those whom much is given. I don't see my
advantages as safety nets and mere fall back positions, I see them as
tickets to take bigger risks, to take bigger challenges, and to go
further away from my comfort zone.



Tsk, tsk, if you think I have it easy, then sorry to say, your
standards and my standards are different. I'm just starting out, the
road is still long. If you think my corporate dayjob is the end all and
be all of my existence, then you are mistaken, thats just plan B.