Ok people.. I will brace for the downvotes. But I have some serious questions.

This is aimed to all the people younger than 30 in the profession, particularly those who don’t have their licenses yet.

Where exactly did anyone say this professional endeavor was going to be easy, the path simple, or the demands manageable?

This is a profession, not unlike being a doctor or lawyer. Those who simply treat it like a vocation should understand that technicians, drafters, designers are not fully rounded professionals and should not simply deserve a license without higher credentials, training, professional education, deeper experience, an oath, oversight, continuing education, etc. Yes.. someone can “do” Some things professionals can without the same professional marks, but that’s doesn’t deserve the same title. Being a BIM tech for 10 years doesn’t qualify one as an architect any more than an xray tech for ten years qualifies as a surgeon. Yes, there might be a complex sidestep to get a stamp, but it’s not what the intention of licensure is.

What I hear and consistently see is ongoing watering down of the professional side of our industry. Not just with hapless legislation driven by construction lobbies, but by the youth of the profession itself. Young people who seem hell bent on not wanting to do the work, leaning more on technology than brainwork, pointing and clicking vs learning about construction and the trades. People Using Google instead of understanding contracts and codes. Using Ai instead of learning how to draw. Turtling behind screens instead of doing actual Professional outreach and networking. There is a rush to get a license as fast and as easily as possible, there are endless schemes of reciprocity and sidestepping intentions of developing expertise and well rounded professionals.

There is case after case of people being mad and upset they are not paid enough, not given enough perks, or not being able to balance a life outside work. As if life and industry of economy owes them for simply showing up? It seems that it is a lot of younger people in the profession making these claims. Am I wrong?

I am sorry if this sounds harsh. But I do see in real life as much as online in these forums. I’ve been practicing 25 years with a lot of hard lessons and three recessions under my belt. I don’t remember anyone telling me anything but that this was a demanding job, really requiring a calling or a passion to be successful. It requires drive and sacrifices not all jobs ask of those who practice.

There are a lot of people who simply don’t understand what it takes to survive and thrive in this profession. Few have ever even felt an actual recession of the economic cycle.

Those who do understand have worked extremely hard, have made sacrifices and choices and operate with eyes wide open. Those who do not understand this concept seem to be the ones who are dismayed and lacking direction and focus and driving unrealistic expectations of what this industry is, what the profession is.

I am all about helping mentor younger professionals, but in the end we can only lead a horse to water after all. This profession simply isn’t for everyone.