Jonathan Tsao

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

Eugene Raskin, architect, songwriter, philosopher and bon vivant, taught an undergraduate course at Columbia College during the 1970s called "The Architect in Society". It was a non-studio course that gave aspiring and curious minds a glimpse of what to expect as a career architect. At the first class Prof. Raskin positioned himself at the head of a capacity group of students (the class was popular for guaranteeing a passing grade with no pop quizzes or tests but based solely on attendance), leaned against the speaker's podium and said "anyone of you seeking a career that assures financial prosperity and independence should consider an alternative to architecture". My initial impression was to dismiss this advice as frivolous, irresponsible and even destructive. But years following taught me what an incredible gift he gave us all because although nobody in that class wanted or expected to hear those words, we all needed to recognize that reality and he knew the earlier the better. Those who stuck it out learned an important early lesson in commitment and personal values and those who heeded the advice made better personal choices without wasting time and energy. I will never forget him or that class. Eugene Raskin is best known for his platinum award revival of the song "Those Were The Days".