What Am I Doing

I know I am not alone in the experience of finding oneself adrift after the Covid pandemic turned our world on its head. In March of 2020, I found myself packing up my Vancouver apartment, leaving my school and life in the city behind to move back into my mom’s house in my hometown of Pender Harbour. While in a time of uncertainty and fear, I was lucky enough to enjoy living with my family, spending ample time in nature and visiting my friends while still social-distancing. I got lucky in that my experience with Covid was not so bad, all things considered. While I was enjoying my pandemic experience more than some, I knew something was amiss in the back of my mind. I had no desire to go back to my university program after the pandemic.

When I graduated high school and went straight into university at Capilano, I went with the vague intention of becoming a teacher. I started courses in general studies, slowly working towards a Bachelor of Arts. At the beginning, I thought I would be happy as a teacher or educator of some kind. I love children and being a leader, and have a great respect for the profession. However, after a year away from classes, I no longer had the desire to continue.

I started to search for what I wanted to do, and I really had no idea. I explored the idea of real estate, business school, event planning and even culinary school. I eventually landed on the idea of becoming an interior decorator. I thought it would be a good enough path for me, since I always enjoyed playing Sims and rearranging my room as a kid. Honestly, I first toyed with the idea of interiors because I thought it would be easy.

After some research, and talking to others in the field, I discovered that taking an interior design course would be more lucrative and open more options than a decorator. That’s when I decided to enroll in the Interior Design Fundamentals program at British Columbia Institute of Technology. It was on my first day that I realized under no circumstances, would this be an easy program. My first semester was spent lugging an eighteen-inch by twenty-four-inch drawing portfolio full of drawing pads and tools through the Vancouver public transit system, taking two buses and a sky train to complete the hour-long commute at eight in the morning. It was pretty difficult to carry all that around and still stop for a coffee.

While the first semester of freehand drawing cubes and floorplans was not easy and was certainly exhausting, I realized that although this program would be far more work than I anticipated, I was actually enjoying it. I had great respect for my professors, who had been in the industry since long before I was born. They very clearly had knowledge and a passion for their craft, and I had a lot to learn from them. Throughout my three years at BCIT, I grew more passionate and interested in the world of interior design. It opened my eyes to the endless routes you can take and the different, imperative roles an interior designer plays. Before first year, I didn’t even know AutoCAD and SketchUp were a thing, let alone programs that would become some of my favourite parts of the job. I also found I was putting more effort forth in my studies. At Capilano, I had failed three courses by the time second semester rolled around. At BCIT, I found myself more engaged, wanting to put out good work for my teachers and for myself. I was taking more pride in what I was doing. 

During my final year of schooling, I landed a position I highly coveted at a tile sales showroom. My two coworkers were extremely experienced in the field. My manager had worked in the tile industry for over four decades, getting to know the material, the contractors, designers and procedure of material sales. I am so grateful he was willing to openly share any knowledge he could with me. He was also flexible when it came to school; moving shifts around to accommodate my class schedule and giving me time to select materials for school projects. He was quick to answer any questions he could and give me encouragement.

My other coworker also had decades of experience; she herself graduated from Ryerson with her Bachelor of Interior Design. She had no shortage of experience in design, sales, management and leadership. Throughout my time at school and work, she was always willing to offer advice, tips and tricks, and countless words of support and motivation. Even after moving on from the showroom, she has always been there for me to pick her brain, or push me in furthering my career. Honestly if it wasn’t for her, I may not have had the nerve and courage to start this website and put myself out there.

I could name countless other people I have met and gotten to work with over the past few years such as schoolmates, designers and coworkers that have stoked my passion for this industry. While none of them pretended that my career choice would be a walk in the park, they never let me doubt myself or that if I work hard and am patient, I can do it. Having the privilege of attending industry events like the Interior Design Show in Vancouver, and Casa Decor in Madrid also shot my interest into the sky. Exploring the outstanding work of some of the best in the field is truly inspiring.

Before my schooling and time at the tile showroom, I would say I looked at interior design as a hobby. Throughout the last few years, however, I have realized it takes a lot of work and patience to make beauty look so effortless. The many teams and departments you need behind the scenes, the long hours spent sourcing and the countless project revisions are just some of the non-glamourous aspects it takes to be an interior designer. I still have so much to learn, and I feel grateful I have met so many encouraging and supportive industry people so far.

I now realize that interior design is my passion. After spending five months in Europe gawking at some of the oldest and most famous architecture and design in the world, I see just how much there is to learn about and appreciate. That time also gave me great appreciation for the architecture I have right here at home, and taught me to look at the details and little things that make up the bigger picture. I look forward to growing and developing my career and relationships in this field, and hope to accomplish some beautiful projects along the way, if I’m lucky.