Verónica Raquel García Mejía

When I was a little girl, I wanted to become an architect because I have somebody in my family who is an architect. I remember seeing the things that he would make, like models for residential projects. I always had that thought around when I was in 5th grade, but then like a kid, I wanted to become something else like a pilot and an astronaut, so I lost track. I actually lined up my career to be an aeronautical engineer, but once I got in college, I realized that I was more artistic. Even though I really enjoyed the STEM part of aeronautical engineering, I also enjoyed being very artistic and drawing and enjoying the arts. I decided to find a medium, which is architecture, because architecture embodies so many different things, not just design in the built world, but so many layers to it. I took an architecture course to see how I would perform or if it would spark something in me, and it truly did spark something in me. I just knew from that first course I took that this was the route I should go, and I was so passionate about it. That's what really led me to architecture. I've been in my field for 8 years now, going through all the stages of being an architect - starting as an entry-level designer doing master planning and interior design work, moving up to designer 2, then two years ago becoming a senior architectural designer. I just recently got promoted to architectural project manager. My biggest achievement right now is my performance - I was promoted fairly to a higher pay grade because my performance was noted by leadership within my firm based on my project management skills and technical skills within my discipline. In terms of design work, my biggest achievement is the project we're working on right now for City of Seffner Hills, which involves 7 buildings - a city public works facility that's actually going into construction soon.