As an architectural intern at West Work, one of the most fulfilling experiences of my internship was sitting across from a group of curious, bright-eyed middle schoolers at the Dewitt Center in Roxbury. Through my involvement with Apprentice Learning, I had the opportunity to serve as a Career Mentor and introduce students to the world of architecture. Not just the buildings we design, but the thought, collaboration, and creativity that shape them.

During my first session, I spoke to the students about my own journey. Studying architecture as a college student, interning at West Work, and what inspired me to pursue this path. I was blown away by the students’ thoughtful questions about this career. After our engaging conversation, I led a hands-on activity: building the tallest and most stable tower using only toothpicks and marshmallows.

I was extremely impressed by the way the students approached the challenge. Their ideas were clever and completely their own. One student, for example, split open a marshmallow, added water to make it sticky, and used it as glue – something that had never even crossed my mind. I watched as these young minds worked together, experimented, and problem-solved which reminded me why I chose this career. Architecture isn’t just about making things – it’s about rethinking them too.

In my second session, held at the Shelburne Community Center, we shifted gears to explore the bones of buildings: wood frame construction. I introduced concepts such as load distribution, floor systems, and trusses. Specifically, why triangles are a powerful form in structural design. The students then got to test those concepts themselves by building popsicle stick bridges designed to hold the weight of a brick.

I felt it was important to show students how architecture is both art and science, vision and structure. It was a chance to spark interest for a field that can sometimes feel intimidating and make it tangible.

What stood out to me most during these sessions was the students’ boldness. There’s always some level of hesitation in design and fear of getting something “wrong”. But with these students, I saw none of that. They dove into the challenges headfirst, testing ideas, pushing boundaries, and approaching each task with a kind of fearlessness that inspired me. It reminded me that creativity thrives most when you’re not afraid to fail.

I’m grateful to Apprentice Learning for creating these moments of connection, and to West Work for encouraging me to bring architecture into our community.