Why? My friends have been asking me, with a perplexed tone and concerned look on their faces. Why? They ask me after I tell them I’ve made a career move into PR and communications at an agency.

And I’ve been giving quite bland answers like “why not?” or “I didn’t see my future in architecture”. This isn’t inaccurate as to how I feel, but I also wanted to give the question the attention and thought that I think it deserves.

“I’ll be the first to admit that I was/am also incredibly scared about being able to “perform” the act of PR.”

Firstly, I think most of the concern in the question comes from friends who know me as a staunch introvert. And I’ll be the first to admit that I was/am also incredibly scared about being able to “perform” the act of PR. I shudder at the thought of being the centre of attention, and I am never the life of the party. My social capacity is relatively low, meaning I don’t need much of it to be happy. Small talk confuses me, and if forced, completely drains me. Working from home for the past two years was bliss. But that is not to say I don’t enjoy socialising and connecting with people. I actually love doing so and it’s where I often find meaning and purpose. I just prefer to have quieter, slower, deeper conversations where I can listen intently and process my thoughts before I speak. And I think there’s enough space in the world for every kind of person. I am sometimes still my harshest critic, but I’m reaching a point where I can be comfortable with myself and who I am. I know that I can be good at certain aspects of this job, and other aspects will just be more challenging. But isn’t that the case with any job?

I think, I design and I visualise in words - and I have done so for many years. I find words more nimble and malleable - I can shape them in infinite ways.

As much as it may feel like an impulsive decision, I’ve been contemplating a career pivot for a while now. Architecture as a career was never really the right fit for me (I wrote in my undergraduate portfolio “I have never wanted to be an architect”. That was in 2015.) It had been on my mind that I wanted to work more with words. I think everything begins with storytelling. The world exists as an objective reality, but to make sense of it, we give it meaning and judgment - we color it with words and we tell ourselves and the people around us a certain story. That story can move you to never eat chicken again in your life, or to believe that your race is better than others. Everything begins with storytelling. In architecture and design, most storytelling is done via a visual medium. But I think, I design and I visualise in words - and I have done so for many years. I find words more nimble and malleable - I can shape them in infinite ways. I see them move, dance, and interact. I thought perhaps journalism or publishing. But the opportunity to join a PR agency presented itself in front of me, and I couldn’t help but jump at it. The process was a sandwich of sorts. In between writing up my cover letter, doing the first interview, and the second, I gave myself a crash course (ie googled) on what PR was all about, listened to podcasts, and watched Youtube videos. And so I went into the job not completely blind.

Too often, architecture as a practice is detached from the people it’s for, and the people it’s made by. The process of making a building is a long one - and if not managed well, it can really suck you dry of creativity. Most people are stressed most of the time. And of course, the cherry on top is that they are not paid well. Not many can afford to be a struggling artist. This is no longer a secret.

I want to be a better communicator. I want to tell good stories. I want to learn how this world works.

I didn’t have much to complain about my previous job. I was in the company of great and talented people. But when friends did ask how it was going, I’d often say that I was being challenged by things I didn’t really want to be challenged by. I was learning things that were of secondary and limited interest. I don’t really have an infinite curiosity in knowing how a building comes together. There are people who do. I think my infinite curiosity lies in the complexities of a bigger scale. How do buildings become a project in the first instance? How is it funded? How do you win work? The challenges that come with this new job are also challenges that I am quite happy to face, and to be challenged by. I want to be a better communicator. I want to tell good stories. I want to learn how this world works.

Opportunity breeds more opportunities. Every potential has infinite branches of potentials. I’m of the opinion that you won’t truly know, unless you try. And that if you really want to know, then you have to really try.

<aside> 🙋🏽 To caveat all of what I’ve written here: I’ve only been at this job for 6 weeks. So take it with a healthy amount of salt. There is an equal amount of optimism and trepidation in the air still. I imagine future Haziq will come back and read this and have something to say about it.

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written on 18th January 2022