13 B.Arch to M.Arch

Other than my part time job, school took most of my time.

I joined a cooking club at my freshmen year, cause it reminds me of the times I spent with uncle Adelmo. And I joined because Michelle has been bugging me about being 'anti-social'.

So I joined the club, and it was the best decision I made in college.

Even if its the only extracurricular activity I participated. Because I don't have much time due to my part time job in the morning and classes in the afternoon. I benefited a lot.

HA! I don't really have much time for anything.

The Club not only taught me cooking, it also expose me to people.

Every week the Club has activities, we either learn how to cook from chefs, eat in Michelin Star Restaurants, we also cook for shelters and orphanage. Its a healing work, knowing you can help others who are much in need even a little bit. I met a lot of people trough these activities.

I met orphans, who also crave love just like me. It has become a habit of mine to visit orphanage every month just to help them, and lessen even a little bit of sadness in their hearts. And let them feel that someone cares for them.

I also met battered women, who have shown me how to be courageous even in simple ways. I really feel for them, maybe because I did everything to please my parents but still be hurt by them over and over again.

The Club also helped me in my communication skills where I'm so bad at. I was exposed to a lot of people from different fields of studies, some are from engineering, medical, and social sciences.

This really helped me cultivated my communication skills.

This is how I began to open to people around me. I started having many friends instead of a chosen few. I broaden my horizon and befriend a lot of people. I started to approach people on my own without the help of Michelle.

The Club really helped me a lot, and this has benefited me for the upcoming years.

After 5 years, at 22 years old I graduated for my Bachelor of Architecture and Urban Design (B.Arch).

I was happy with my achievement, I graduated with honors.

Yehey!!!

And because I don't have parents present, my AXP* supervisor and his wife stood as them.

I was close to tears when they showed up for me. Alexander & Susan Malcolm have been acting as my parents since they learned of my relationship to my biological ones.

Susan has been such as a dear woman. She once told me;

"Emma dear, in 65 years of living I never heard of parents like yours. But don't be sad dear, its not your loss its theirs."

And she was right its my parents loss, not mine. And the finally seal for that is when I heard from Alisha the troubles Elsa did and that how it made my parents lose alot of face infront of their friends, and they love their face.

After graduation I continued my AXP, then Alexander, my supervisor, suggested I continue my education at the same time my AXP.

"Emma, you should take up a Masters degree, since you have a lot of time. You can go to school at weekends and have your paid experience on weekdays. Having an M.Arch (Master of Architecture) puts much color in your resume."

So, I continued my education, the following school year I joined the graduate studies. M.Arch is a 3 years study. So, I did my M.Arch in weekend and few days in weekdays and work in weekdays most of the time.

I did my paid experience in Alexanders' firm, his assistant has been promoted a few weeks a go and the position was vacant for my taking.

So after graduation I joined Finn & Buchanan as an assistant and secretary. And the same time go to UCLA for my masters.

* AXP stands for Architectural Experience Program (see Chapter 9 for explanation)