The Branches Of The Learning Tree

Go Hokies!

I ended up choosing to go to The Land of the Hokie Bird (aka Virginia Tech) and immediately was NOT accepted into the school of Architecture (also where the Interior Design Program resides). So I could try again next year, right? Wrong. Studio space is extremely limited in these classrooms and you would have to start all over again as a freshman. This meant not graduating until year 5 or 6 – and financially, that was an irresponsible choice for myself and my extremely supportive family. So, I hunkered and literally investigated EVERY SINGLE MAJOR the university offered. This is not an exaggeration. I wish I still had my notes. Every major was then categorized by the number of class credits (and essentially, years) needed to complete the degree, which of my prerequisites and freshman courses would already apply, and if it was something I even wanted to do.

During this “fun” task I assigned myself, besides thinking that I already knew more than the Office Registrar employees, I stumbled upon the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) accredited program. This was one of two path choices, inside of the Housing concentration, which was a part of the Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management (AHRM) degree in the College of Liberal Arts. What a mouthful! And, for anyone who is interested in the program, they have now changed the major to Residential Environments and Design (RED) with an associated Housing minor you can add.

Yes, I Am A Philosopher

Fun fact: I couldn’t apply to this program immediately and then there was a “wait period” for some of the classes. This meant (because I had too many credits) I had to declare a major prior to being accepted into the AHRM program. So, I picked a major I wasn’t sure I could make money in, but knew it would be great for my personal growth – Philosophy (PHIL). Honestly, I’m not sure why everyone doesn’t take at least 1 year of “intro to philosophy” because it ROCKS.

Want to learn how to make valid arguments and engage better with others? Take a Modern Logic class. Interested in discussing what drives people to make decisions and what our purpose to others is? Take a Existentialism course. Always wanted to know where knowledge comes from, and how it helps us form our own beliefs? Sit through a series of Epistemology lectures and you’ll fall in love with Philosophy too. Or not – but at least I tried. The best “crossover” class I took was PHIL 3414: Aesthetics. We did a deep dive into the philosophy of art, the theory of beauty, and understanding the interpretations of what makes art good and how it brings value to the world. Honestly, I think I do this everyday while designing.

Not One, But Two

During the course of my four years at Virginia Tech, I fell in love with a couple of things. The first was learning – like the real “I get to choose what I learn” type of learning. In addition to my PHIL courses, I was able to take some fun electives like Floral Design, Greek and Roman Mythology, Perspectives on LGBTQ Issues, and – a personal favorite – Wines and Vines. The other? I fell in love with kitchen and bath design. I always knew I was a “college-bound” person because the specific field that I wanted to work in typically required a degree or license to practice. But finding the perfect program, accredited by the NKBA, was just the world’s way of showing me the right path.

Something else I really fell in love with: Virginia Tech. If you have never been to Blacksburg, VA you are doing yourself an injustice. No – it’s not a hot spot for honeymoons or anything, but a weekend trip can help you understand why when you ask me what a Hokie is, the response you get is, “I am.” Another thing you should know about me – I really like sports. Now, I can’t say I “love” sports because there are so many people who know 10 times the amount I do, but I can hold my own. I do however love going to games, and Virginia Tech football and basketball were no different. One of the reasons I ended up keeping my PHIL major and getting a degree was because I promised to graduate with that degree a semester early so that I could walk in Cassell Coliseum – Virginia Tech’s basketball stadium – in the winter of 2012. Goal accomplished? Check. I then finished up my remaining credits in the Spring semester and walked with the remainder of my class in Lane Stadium on Worsham Field – you guessed it, football – in 2013.

Thanks For Tuning In

So there it is, I have two degrees from the school that was the best fit for me. Proudly hanging on my walls are two extremely expensive pieces of paper that hold more memories than I can even remember. The first, a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. The second, a Bachelor of Science in Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management.

I tell people all the time: I am NOT an interior decorator. I am NOT an interior designer. I do NOT work in commercial buildings/design (like hospitals or hotels). I do NOT work for an engineer or architect. I am a kitchen and bath designer, and that’s what I have my degree and accreditation in. I can’t do much else (well, professionally really well anyways) but I love what I do and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

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The title song is “ABC” by the Jackson 5
Find all of my blog title songs on my Spotify playlist