--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I actually wanted to be an architect when…" description: "\"I actually wanted to be an architect when I was a kid, but I did a solid geometry course where we had to build a geodesic dome out of toothpicks, and m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/alison-sudol-6913_alien_i-actually-wanted-to-be-an-architect-whe_2465752.jpg" --- # I actually wanted to be an architect when I was a kid, but… ![“I actually wanted to be an architect when I was a kid, but I did a solid geometry course where we had to build a geodesic dome out of toothpicks, and mine came out looking like an alien space station. I threw it against a wall and gave up.” quote by Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/alison-sudol-6913_alien_i-actually-wanted-to-be-an-architect-whe_2465752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/alison-sudol-6913_alien_i-actually-wanted-to-be-an-architect-whe_2465752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/alison-sudol-6913_alien_i-actually-wanted-to-be-an-architect-whe_2465752.jpg) > “I actually wanted to be an architect when I was a kid, but I did a solid geometry course where we had to build a geodesic dome out of toothpicks, and mine came out looking like an alien space station. I threw it against a wall and gave up.” [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early ambition can be derailed by unexpected setbacks, leading to discouragement. **In simple terms:** Dreams can fail and cause frustration. Key Takeaway Persist despite setbacks. Themes ambition setbacks creativity failure resilience Mood reflective lighthearted Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - school projects - artistic endeavors - career changes Key Concepts personal growth design motivation Questions to Reflect On - What kept you motivated after failure? - How can you turn failure into learning? A Different Perspective The anecdote is humorous but may oversimplify perseverance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alien/) [Architect Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architect-kid-707256/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Build Geodesic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-geodesic-707260/) [Geodesic Dome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geodesic-dome-707259/) [Geometry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geometry/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Solid Geometry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solid-geometry-707257/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Wanted Architect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-architect-707258/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Not enough is known about solid geometry\] and for two reasons: in the first place, no government places value on it; this leads to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/not-enough-is-known-about-solid-geometry-and-for-two-reasons-in-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Considerable obstacles generally present themselves to the beginner, in studying the elements of Solid Geometry, from the practice which has hitherto uniformly prevailed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-de-morgan/considerable-obstacles-generally-present-themselves-to-the-beginner/) [Augustus De Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-de-morgan/) > [The ludicrous state of solid geometry made me pass over this branch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-ludicrous-state-of-solid-geometry-made-me-pass-over-this-branch/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“My theory is that, as with our children, as with every surface of that geodesic dome inside the 8-Ball, every age we've ever been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/my-theory-is-that-as-with-our-children-as-with-every-surface-of-that/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [To be an architect has been a life-long dream. Little did I know when asked at the age of 14 'what do you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meier/to-be-an-architect-has-been-a-life-long-dream-little-did-i-know-when/) [Richard Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meier/) > [As a kid I wanted to be a vet; I wanted to be an architect. I was and still am such a little geek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/as-a-kid-i-wanted-to-be-a-vet-i-wanted-to-be-an-architect-i-was-and/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [As a child I wanted to become an architect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hughes/as-a-child-i-wanted-to-become-an-architect/) [Chris Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hughes/) > [My first architectural project I did, I must have been fifteen, was for neighbors across the street, a couple of school teachers, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-ambasz/my-first-architectural-project-i-did-i-must-have-been-fifteen-was-for/) [Emilio Ambasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-ambasz/) > [From when I was about seven, I thought I wanted to be an architect. I've always loved spaces and dwellings in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arizona-muse/from-when-i-was-about-seven-i-thought-i-wanted-to-be-an-architect-i/) [Arizona Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arizona-muse/) > [I wanted to be an architect, and I ended up at my job in San Francisco, and if you would have asked me then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-wanted-to-be-an-architect-and-i-ended-up-at-my-job-in-san-francisco/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I wanted to be an architect, fate took me to films. Now that I am into politics, I want to give my best here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roopa-ganguly/i-wanted-to-be-an-architect-fate-took-me-to-films-now-that-i-am-into/) [Roopa Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roopa-ganguly/) > [I wanted to be an architect. I used to draw houses and buildings and construct buildings on my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-holbrook/i-wanted-to-be-an-architect-i-used-to-draw-houses-and-buildings-and/) [Boyd Holbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-holbrook/) > [“They were looking for a builder to construct the home they thought they wanted, but he was the architect, coming with a new plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/they-were-looking-for-a-builder-to-construct-the-home-they-thought/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [. . . by natural selection our mind has adapted itself to the conditions of the external world. It has adopted the geometry most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/by-natural-selection-our-mind-has-adapted-itself-to-the-conditions-of/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) ## More by Alison Sudol > [As a person life has always been a bit of a challenge for me and I have spent so much of my early years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/as-a-person-life-has-always-been-a-bit-of-a-challenge-for-me-and-i/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [Even when my every inclination is to be otherwise, I don't want to live my life on the dark side of things. Sometimes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/even-when-my-every-inclination-is-to-be-otherwise-i-don-t-want-to/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [I just love the holidays so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-just-love-the-holidays-so-much/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [Percussion is so good for me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/percussion-is-so-good-for-me/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [I was a very quiet kid who didn't feel normal being outgoing and running around, so all the beauty that was in my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-was-a-very-quiet-kid-who-didn-t-feel-normal-being-outgoing-and/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [Whether it's a photograph or a piece of clothing, a leather bag or a film, I tend to gravitate towards simple, beautifully made, quietly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/whether-it-s-a-photograph-or-a-piece-of-clothing-a-leather-bag-or-a/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [There are two things I love about Temescal. One is the sense of space that you get when you get to the top. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/there-are-two-things-i-love-about-temescal-one-is-the-sense-of-space/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [I think something that is never really spoken about is the learning process of making records - I made my first record at twenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-think-something-that-is-never-really-spoken-about-is-the-learning/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [I want you to feel in 'Riversong' like you're floating down a river on your back, and you're looking at the stars, and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-want-you-to-feel-in-riversong-like-you-re-floating-down-a-river-on/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [I have a huge love for architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/i-have-a-huge-love-for-architecture/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [In my mind, I'm still that kid who gets affected by other people's music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/in-my-mind-i-m-still-that-kid-who-gets-affected-by-other-people-s/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [As a musician, you kinda get used to failure in life, and then when things actually start succeeding, it's a very interesting feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/as-a-musician-you-kinda-get-used-to-failure-in-life-and-then-when/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [“They are the hunters we are the rabbits”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/they-are-the-hunters-we-are-the-rabbits/) [Alison sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [Whatever you're doing, you have to do it 100 percent; you have to be totally present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/whatever-you-re-doing-you-have-to-do-it-100-percent-you-have-to-be/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [To me, the making of art and experiences around that are the biggest part to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/to-me-the-making-of-art-and-experiences-around-that-are-the-biggest/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) [Explore all 96 Alison Sudol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) ## More Alien quotes > [If you're going to immerse yourself in a project for three years, why not stake out a chunk of the world that is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/if-you-re-going-to-immerse-yourself-in-a-project-for-three-years-why/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) > [“If you are an alien, how come you sound like you're from the north?' 'Lots of planets have a north!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/if-you-are-an-alien-how-come-you-sound-like-you-re-from-the-north/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [Some pundits have proposed that the aliens have come here to breed with us. Apparently, too much bike riding or something similar has rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/some-pundits-have-proposed-that-the-aliens-have-come-here-to-breed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [North Korea is still my homeland, my country. I suffered on the outside because I was alien, without identity. I was nobody. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korea-is-still-my-homeland-my-country-i-suffered-on-the-outside/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [I don't want to be the embarrassment of the galaxy to have had the power to deflect an asteroid, and then not and end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-be-the-embarrassment-of-the-galaxy-to-have-had-the/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Whatever is not commonly seen is condemned as alien.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-chang/whatever-is-not-commonly-seen-is-condemned-as-alien/) [Iris Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-chang/) > [Alien's a great one. That's a scary movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-nelson/alien-s-a-great-one-that-s-a-scary-movie/) [Judd Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-nelson/) > [As far as I can tell, the only unambiguous consequence of the claimed invasion of Earth by beings from another star system has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/as-far-as-i-can-tell-the-only-unambiguous-consequence-of-the-claimed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Rick stared at him. "Your brother is an alien." "Yeah, but he's a cute one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/rick-stared-at-him-your-brother-is-an-alien-yeah-but-he-s-a-cute-one/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [You tell me you love me, but Im not sure you know what love is, or how fast it flies, or how much it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/you-tell-me-you-love-me-but-im-not-sure-you-know-what-love-is-or-how/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Give consideration to the fact that alien astronomers could have scrutinized Earth for more than 4 billion years without detecting any radio signals, despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/give-consideration-to-the-fact-that-alien-astronomers-could-have/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [“When I was a kid, I used to watch that show, sitting on the couch in my pajamas and wishing more than anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to-watch-that-show-sitting-on-the-couch-in-my/) [Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/) > [We of alien looks or words must stick together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/we-of-alien-looks-or-words-must-stick-together/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [One of the most interesting things for me in playing another species is that you want to make them different enough to be alien…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-murray/one-of-the-most-interesting-things-for-me-in-playing-another-species/) [Jaime Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-murray/) > [In a movie, it's often important to have aliens whose gestures and facial expressions can be 'read' by humans. And in the days before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/in-a-movie-it-s-often-important-to-have-aliens-whose-gestures-and/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) [Browse all 709 Alien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alien/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I actually wanted to be an architect when I was a kid, but I did a solid geometry course where we had to build a geodesic dome out of toothpicks, and mine came out looking like an alien space station. 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