From 夏季学院 High Schooler to Master of 体系结构

Elias Christo is getting the most out of the architecture program at RWU. 高中时参加过 夏季学院今年是他在美国大学的最后一年 4 + 2项目, which will allow him to graduate with a bachelor science and master of architecture in just six years. 克里斯托见过真正的客户通过 职业投资计划, served as a TA in the 夏季学院,  and is now president of the RWU chapter of American Institute of 体系结构 Students (AIAS). His involvement in all the program's unique features have brought him long-lasting friendships, 专业的联系, 有领导能力和技术经验, allowing him to design his ideal career path once he graduates. 

What kind of real-world work experiences have you had during your time in the architecture program?

The 职业投资计划 (CIP) has given me the opportunity to obtain internships that may not have otherwise been possible. 随后, each of these internships have provided a myriad of  real world 学习 experiences –– experiences you can't get in a classroom. 例如, seeing buildings undergoing construction or renovation in real time helped me to understand and recreate the drawings I was studying in my Construction Materials class. 另外, I would also receive an understanding of the business end of things, 比如做预算和会见客户. 最重要的是, my experiences at these firms made me a more confident designer because I was able to flex my creative muscles in a real world scenario and receive feedback from working professionals and real clients.

你能谈谈你对组织的参与吗? 

通过学习建筑, I became involved with the AIAS and was fortunate enough to be elected President of our Chapter, 还参加了在奥斯汀的会议, 德州, 华盛顿D.C.以及华盛顿州的西雅图. The confidence and leadership skills I gained through these experiences, 更别提我们之间的友谊了, I cannot even begin to express how much they mean to me.

How have these experiences helped you forge a career path? 

Studying architecture at RWU has benefited me in more ways than I could have imagined. Firstly, I underestimated how my professional network would expand just from being a student. I've been fortunate enough to now have two internships with two different professors, 也为别人做自由职业者. 我也明白了, 在专业的建筑界, Roger Williams has some serious name recognition and firms have always told me that they've had great experiences hiring and working with Roger Williams students and 校友.

你现在在忙什么?

现在, I'm in my 6th year at Roger Williams and graduate with my masters in architecture come spring 2020. 今年夏天, I worked as a teaching assistant for the RWU 夏季学院 in architecture, which is a program that I was a part of back in the summer of 2013. 我还为梅丽莎·哈钦森教授工作 MH建筑师他是一名来自RI州蒂弗顿的暑期实习生. I also continue to do freelance work for professors, firms and friends. My goal is to turn this freelance practice into a full time career once I become licensed.