On October 10, the international commemoration of World Day Mental health; In this sense, and working for more than ten years in the academic field, I consider that it is very important to reflect deeply on the exhausting academic load of the degree and the repercussions that this can generate on the mental health of the students who attend it. they transit.
All of us who have ever chosen it know that architecture as a career has a reputation of enormous demand and long hours dedicated to developing projects. This is evident not only in the number of subjects (mostly annual) that make up each academic cycle, but also in the excess indirect hours necessary for the preparation of models, plans, renders, etc. This overload of hours, sustained over several years, can cause numerous consequences such as stress, loss of weight and self-esteem, irritability, depression, nervous breakdowns, tachycardia, dependence on stimulants, lack of concentration, among others.
The most dangerous thing between students and teachers of the race is that Not only is it naturalized, but it is also encouraged to stay up late and give up hours of rest, theoretically in pursuit of the quality of the projects presented. This type of romanticization of the career is, in my opinion, dangerous, since it can easily justify and hide shortcomings of the current study plan, teacher training and psychological support services.
In this context, it is important to understand that learning, creativity and the search for excellence are activities that can and should be motivated by vocation, and developed within a psychophysical well-being context. We all agree that studying a university degree requires perseverance, dedication and a lot of work. But not a sacrifice. Sacrifice what? Mental health? No, we are definitely facing a new student profile; Future generations will not be willing to pay such high costs.
I understand that the solution is not through the resignation of academic excellence, but through a more fluid, horizontal and empathetic dialogue within the faculty, and for that it is necessary that the study plans be presented and decided between officials, professors, students and graduates. At the same time, discuss what soft skills future architects will need to develop to insert themselves into a uncertain and changing labor market It is essential to understand what type of professionals our career needs in the future.
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