Took a break to tackle some imposing projects and now am coming back with a bit of motivation. Not that everything went swimmingly, I didn't pass the last ARE test I took this past month and I heard that I wasn't awarded a fellowship I had submitted for. One positive, though, was a successful launch of a full day's worth of discussion on equity in the profession. The AIA committee that I co-chair, ForWARD (Forum for Women in Architecture & Related Design), had been planning this event all year and it was exhausting. I had no idea. The meetings, the e-mails, the to-do lists, the research, the plan B's, the group consensus. All in all I was really proud that we pulled it off and from the look of things, people really went away with more knowledge than they had come with. I had planned to write about the event, but after it was done I needed a break. Thankfully Taz Loomans, whom I mentioned in my last post, wrote a fantastic piece for the Portland Architecture blog. 

Preparing for this equity event, as well as attending the Women in Leadership Summit, have exposed me to so much information about not only underrepresented groups, but leadership, mentorship, unconscious bias, etc. I'm torn between information overload and feeling like I need to plow forward and avenge all these inadequacies.  I'm empowered to make a difference, but keep looking for the right fit for my talents, my temperament, my capacity (I'm looking at you final ARE tests). I know keeping myself open to opportunities and being engaged in this dialogue will lead me somewhere (my unhealthy obsession with self help podcasts taught me this much). I would love your two cents - how do you intentionally align your professional goals with your values or your priorities?

Artwork sourced from Nate Williams