Republica’s Pravat Jung Gurung had a brief chitchat session with the 30-year-old Architect.[break]
Why did you choose to be an architect?
I didn’t know what being an architect was actually initially. My parents wanted me to pursue engineering and when I got in; I chose architecture as a part of my course and spent five years studying it. And I don’t regret studying it but when I started the course, I had a goal and the goal was to be practicing architecture 10 years down the line.
How did you get into teaching from being an Architect?
After I graduated, I worked for an architecture firm here in Kathmandu for almost a year. After that, I was offered a project in Darjeeling, India and I spent around 18 to 20 months there. When I came back home after that, my friend, who was teaching where I’m teaching right now, said that the college was looking for a teacher. I applied and got in. It was more like an accident but its fun teaching. I think people who have the knowledge should pass it on to the generation next.
How difficult is it to teach?
Students attitude now have changed and if the teacher looks young, they tend to ridicule them. So they carry this notion with them that they can have the teacher removed from the college because they are paying, which is wrong. However, if you know what you’re teaching and well prepared and keep the students busy in class and at home with assignments from the course, of course, I think its fun to be a teacher. But I must say, for any new teacher, the first semester is always difficult.
What do you think about parents forcing their children to be a doctor or an engineer?
Professions like doctor or engineer are considered by most parents for their children because they give you a social status and, of course, the pay is good. But the concept of pushing children to study something is rapidly changing, even in our society, which I think is good. I, for one, studied architecture because my parents wanted me to and I don’t regret it but I think, forcing isn’t a good idea.
Your say to the youth who want to start want to be an architect
If you want to study architecture, there are lot of areas you can expand to after graduating. You can do urban planning, MBA and then plan for buildings, sociology and much more. However, upon graduation, I would advise the students to not expect a grand paying job. If you’re working under someone, a fresh graduate is merely paid anything between 10, 000 to 15, 000, which is not much. But when you garner the experience, you do earn.
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