Foreword by Samantha Dye

Foreword by Samantha Dye

The first and final semester began and ended with the same sorts of emotions: a whirlwind of calm, trepidation, and excitement. Except, there is another, and stronger sentiment in which I felt for this concluding semester: the fierce sense of fulfilment built up from the five and a half years of studying at the School of Design. The trek to this point, from being the ‘quiet’ one in first year, to now being the approachable one; all of it – the education, the collective ‘ALVA’ experiences, the relationships made between fellow peers, mentors, staff, and students – has been memorable to me. More than ever, kindness is important. The little things, like a small act of writing down feedback notes during jury week, matter. It was this deed to my fellow peers in my second year studio that unexpectedly led to a recommendation to be a SONA Representative. As with most new things, it was a daunting role, but my experience as a SONA Rep has been rewarding; from being the coordinator of SuperStudio in WA, to exposing myself to the architecture industry and network. Looking back, I realise that if I had not taken that first step out of my comfort zone, it is likely that I would have never had the opportunities and experiences that followed this role. Possibly, I would not have lurked around the HUB like a hawk for three semesters as the HUB Manager. Therefore, I highly encourage other students, no matter how big or small, no matter if it is your first or last year, to make a leap. You may be surprised to discover the depth of your own resilience and capability. I also had the opportunity to experience teaching, and this placed me on the other side of education. I have always been aware of the tremendous work required in the role of an educator, however actually being one has made me in awe of the teaching staff at the School. This sentiment is felt greater especially in the wake of a global pandemic, where teaching staff had to fully shift their units online on short notice. Unlike the prior semester where I was just the teaching assistant, this time, I was a workshop coordinator, and the threat of a snap lockdown loomed dreadfully closer than when I was just a student. This teaching experience exposed me to the dedicated efforts behind every weekly preparation for class, and the hours spent on marking and writing feedback. As students, myself included, we often take it for granted the efforts that go into our education. Yes, indeed it is part of the job, and yes, there is always room for improvement, yet we are all human, so I must acknowledge and applaud all the teaching, academic, and support staff at the School of Design for delivering excellent education, semester after semester. As I write this, concluding the final pages of this chapter, the rain has paused and night has fallen; a new chapter slowly unfolds – a job interview awaits me tomorrow. I congratulate the students for their exceptional work exhibited in this catalogue, and I applaud all Design students for the work produced this semester. To you, students or staff, parents or friends, ALVA community or the wider community, I wish you the very best in your next endeavour. I hope to see you again.

Samantha Dye, Master of Architecture 2021