College is filled with fond memories. While starting there was a big change it was a welcome one that helped me grow into the person I am today. It was great having so much choice and I enjoyed studying all my subjects as well as spending time the Refectory with friends. I felt I fitted in well with everyone that I interacted with. Making use of the Gym for weight training is something I’ve continued to do as a hobby as it helps me to switch off and keep up my general fitness.

For a long time, I was always interested in how things work and go together: as a child I was obsessed with LEGO® and the creative freedom it offered, and always enjoyed hands-on subjects such as DT. So, when it came to College, I knew I wanted to study creative subjects and this interest slowly spiralled into my search for a career in architecture.

I left with good grades and began my journey studying for an Architecture degree (Part 1), which was filled with adventure, friends and good memories in Brighton. For my final dissertation, I chose to focus on ‘the home’ and what it can mean to the individual, diving into whether the home is a place, the memories or the people.

After finishing my degree, within a few months I was lucky enough to find work as an Architectural Assistant back in Reigate at WS Planning & Architecture (WSPA). The practice has a small but welcoming team, and I’ve been involved in several residential projects – including listed buildings – which have been submitted and approved for planning. I’ve learnt so much since starting here and continue to learn new things every day.

Fully qualifying as an architect means further study, so I’ve now enrolled at Brighton to begin my master’s degree (Part 2). Doing this part-time means I can continue my professional development in the profession alongside my day job.

If you’re looking for a career in architecture, make sure to save every creative piece of work and all your drawings and art because universities love to see how creative you can be. Architecture is both the most rewarding and most challenging thing I have ever done in my life: the feeling of seeing your ideas come to life is something you will never beat, so don’t give up on it.

Conor Taylor
Reigate College: 2019-2021
Higher education: BA (Hons) Architecture (RIBA Part 1), University of Brighton
Currently: Architectural Assistant, WSPA while studying for an MA Architecture (RIBA Part 2), University of Brighton