College Experiences That Helped an Architect at Boston Architecture Firm Succeed
Nima's undergraduate success stemmed from "following intuition and passions," exploring diverse subjects—even seemingly unrelated ones like a Conlan class—which unexpectedly proved valuable later in their career. This approach, coupled with actively seeking mentorship from faculty during office hours, provided invaluable guidance and broadened their professional perspectives beyond the typical linear career path.
Career Exploration, Mentorship, Interdisciplinary Studies, Intuition and Passion, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nima Shariat
Architect
Boston Architecture Firm
University of California, Santa Cruz
Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Master of Architecture 2022
Computer Science, Economics, Fine Arts, Music
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Architecture, Construction & Design
Creative
Video Highlights
1. Taking a variety of classes in different fields to explore interests and potential career paths.
2. Actively seeking mentorship from faculty through office hours and building relationships.
3. Following intuition and passions, even if it means deviating from a traditional linear career path.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I think the way I ended up as a triple major was partially because I was undeclared for the first year and a half. I was an "excited undeclared" student who didn't know what I wanted to be, so I decided to be curious about many different things.
I was also a bit indecisive, feeling I couldn't commit my life fully to just one thing. In some ways, architecture is like that forever; you can't fully commit to one aspect. You need to keep exploring.
Honestly, holding onto that intuition was the most powerful thing in undergrad. I took a variety of classes and met diverse people and faculty in very different fields. I felt comfortable taking a class even if I didn't know how it would fit into my life later.
Many of those interests have become relevant, even early in my career. Computational graphics, for example, has been useful for teaching. My economics courses prepared me for early-phase fee structuring and financial modeling for projects.
There are direct applications, but also quirky, fun ones. I took a Klingon class where the person who invented Klingon taught a portion of it. I'm sure in 20 years it will be relevant to whatever I do, though I'm not sure how. I'm happy I made that decision.
So, it's really about following your intuition and passions, even if it doesn't align with what you think is the linear path. At the same time, I made an active effort, especially in the second half of undergrad and in grad school, to meet faculty and find mentorship.
Now that I am faculty, I realize it's a two-way street, and there's a joy in being a mentor and making that space available. Going to a public school, like UC, where some classes have 400 people and you don't see the professor, can feel distant.
Making the effort to go to office hours was really worthwhile because it allowed for a relationship and the offering of different paths. It's rare to access that kind of mentorship naturally outside of school, so taking advantage of it was key.