Introduction to the Daditect.
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| Photo Information: Personal Photo Collection, Photo taken December, 2016 |
My name is Joshua and I am wrapping up my studies with the College of Architecture this spring. I am the father of eight (two step-children and six biological children). Although I certainly define myself by my architectural vocation, I find that my children, and the vocations they have chosen, are a small reflection of who I have become as a person as I grow older. I am proud of them all.
My oldest, who is 23 years old, works between Oklahoma and Los Angeles as a 1st AC or first assistant cameraman. His role on set is to setup camera rigs and pull focus during shooting. He has worked on a number of productions from film festival winners to Gordan Ramsey shows.
My second oldest is two years younger and is working towards being a firefighter. He currently is an EMT and serves the Moore and Norman community through EMSTAT. I hope none of you ever have to meet him at work!
My third son recently graduated high school and is working through an electrician apprenticeship. He started his own business building electric bicycles and is often found performing magic pyrotechnic card tricks on Norman's Second Friday Art Walks.
My fourth son is a senior at Norman High School. He is a singer and songwriter. He will be attending UCO's musical performance program as a freshman next year and hopes to eventually complete a Master's Program in New York City.
I have two daughters. One is a high school sophomore and the other is a high school freshman. My sophomore is a violinist who also plays piano and guitar. She currently is planning on following her mother's path by seeking a higher education in experimental psychology. She is a consummate do-gooder who helps anyone she can in need. My Freshman is a lifelong ballerina and runner. She is also a visual artist who enjoys painting and working on her pottery wheel. She works at the Norman Firehouse Art Center. She plans to attend OU's College of Architecture to complete an interior design degree and join her dad's office as a registered interior designer.
Finally, my two youngest boys are both 7th grade middle-schoolers who love basketball, playing Fortnite, and performing in school drama and musical performances. One son is a drummer and plays the trumpet. He enjoys his robotics course at school and has discovered a fondness for computer coding. He dreams of being a video game designer. The other plays the flute and is a writer. He has written two novels (200+ pages each) and many short stories. He writes on a weekly basis and dreams of being the next Stephen King.
I love watching these individuals grow as people. I can never get enough of standing on the sidelines of their lives and seeing where they take themselves. I say they define me, because they constantly make me reflect on the person I want to be for them.
They are good people and I am proud to be their Daditect.
Hi Joshua! may I just say I love your picture. Your family seems to have a lot of fun together. It's interesting to see the variety in the paths your children have chosen, from robotics to ballet to magic. I'm pretty heavily involved in robotics myself, and if your son does robotics through the Botball program, I may have worked with him!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome looking family! You guys all look like fun people. I think it's really wonderful that you hold all your children in such high regard, and your pride in them is really expressed through your writing. I hope to have such a family (maybe not as many kids!) in the future. Joshua, you're doing well. I'll keep an eye out for the next Stephen King (:
ReplyDeleteWow, I must say I am impressed! I loved reading about you and your children. I think it is wonderful how you mention your process of reflection, I too find this an important practice. I bet you all have the best holidays! Just imagine when all your kiddos, have their own kiddos! I am excited for you, :) :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteJoshua, your family is very impressive. All of them have fantastic accomplishments. The fact that you are studying architecture is also cool. My grandfather was an architect, and he seemed to really enjoy it. The meticulous work that goes into making plans impresses me. I also think that architect is such a well-known job, and that is cool. Everyone knows what an architect is.
ReplyDeleteHello, Joshua! I love that you have such a big family with so many different skills and aspirations! Your fourth son and I have a lot in common: I am a vocal performance major here at OU and am hoping to land a masters program in New York! Being a college musician is really tough but also so rewarding and exciting. After all, your not truly happy unless you're doing what you love!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Joshua!
ReplyDeleteWhoa, your introduction post is so memorable and interesting, I definitely feel like I learned more about your kids than you. I could not imagine taking high level architecture courses and raising a family. One of my friends is an architecture major and it seems like she barely sleeps. I also really like how proud you are of your children and how you've encouraged and nurtured their unique and individual passions.
Hi Joshua,
ReplyDeleteYou have a great family! Reading you introduction, I can tell you really care about your family and children, and you are really proud of them. I can't image how busy you must be being a full time dad and having all your coursework.
I look forward to reading your stories throughout the semester!
Best,
Kevin.
Ha ha, the Daditect: that is an admirable title, Joshua! And how cool to be part of a family that can make a human pyramid all its own. That is worthy of the Indian epics themselves! (You will see dense family trees galore in the Mahabharata coming up...). It is exciting to have an architecture student in the class; I see all kinds of news about the Architecture School at Twitter, but I can't remember the last time there was an architecture major in this class. And please let me know when I can including an announcement about your son #3 and his pyrotechnics in the class announcements: how cool! Plus I am guessing your Stephen-King-to-be son will be able to brainstorm with you about stories, trading writing ideas and tips. You've got so much good generational energy to keep you whizzing along all semester, and I hope you will enjoy the class!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you’ve done a pretty good job raising your kids! Also, that’s an insane amount of kids but I feel like that must be a lot of fun! Your picture looks like your family must have the most interesting and fun times. I can tell that you’re proud of your kids, and wish you and your kids the best of luck!
ReplyDeleteHowdy Joshua,
ReplyDeleteYour family picture is amazing, and it seems like there is a lot of fun being had! I think it is so interesting how all of your children have taken something from you, yet they are all taking different paths in life. I would say you have done a fantastic job raising all of your children. Good luck in your final semester at OU!
Hey Joshua! It sounds like you have raised some absolutely incredible children. It is so wonderful that they are each pursuing something they are passionate about and that they all have their own unique interests! I really enjoyed reading about each of them. The description of your younger daughter reminded me a little bit of myself. I am a ballet performance major at OU, and a certified lifelong ballerina! Running is also a favorite pastime of mine, and I actually inherited this love from my own father, who has been running for more than 40 years!
ReplyDeleteHi Joshua!
ReplyDeleteI love how proud you are of all of your kids and how invested you are in their careers regardless of what path they have chosen to follow! It's always wonderful to see parents who support their children in the arts (my parents put up with my 14 hours of ballet a week, and came to see approximately 12 thousand Nutcrackers) and who are excited when their children pursue something other than the "safe" college route. Best of luck to you and your family!
Hi Joshua!
ReplyDeleteI loved that you wrote you introduction about your kids, and even though I do not have children of my own, I do agree with your statement that parent's children are a directly reflection of themselves. And wow! Your children all seem so progressive in their lives and have very interesting occupations and interests! That is really refreshing to see!
Hi Joshua!
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful family! I love how you seem to have an interest in each of their lives. I know that's what dads are supposed to do, but that's not always how the cookie crumbles I guess. I don't have any kids of my own, but from the stories I have heard you must have one busy life having eight kids yourself! I think it's interesting that you chose to major in architecture. When I entered the university last year I almost chose architecture myself, but I decided on mathematics instead. Have you considered taking/have already taken a course called "Russian Culture and Civilization?" I took it summer of 2018 and a large portion of the class was Russian architecture throughout the last several centuries, so you might find it interesting.
Hi Joshua! What an amazing family! I love how each child has their own different goal in life and are doing so well! My family is pretty big as well, I have three younger siblings that I live with and then three step-siblings that don't live with us, but they do visit frequently! Having a big family can be overwhelming, so I hope yours is doing well!
ReplyDeleteHey Josh! First off you have a hilarious picture. I thought I had a pretty big family, with 4 kids in the fam, but yours is absolutely massive. How are you enjoying the balance between family and school? I know I feel like I have no time for my other life without a large family, so I can't even imagine what it's like for you.
ReplyDeleteHi Joshua,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your studies at the College of Architecture – are you planning to go immediately into practice when you finish? And what prompted you to become an architect? (I realize there are other degrees in the College of Architecture too, so you aren’t necessarily an architect…)
You have what sounds like an incredible family, and it seems that they all have bright careers and lives before them! Nice to “meet” you and them, even this late in the course.
Best,
A.M.
Hey Joshua,
ReplyDeleteThis was so gosh darn wholesome! I bet your house is filled with all sorts of crazy stories, and probably sounds like a concert hall when everyone is together and practicing their musical craft. I think its so cool that you have so many children and they are all so diverse in what they do and what interests them! Have you told your youngest about the stories you've read in this class so far? I bet they could be some great inspiration for his future novels!
Joshua,
ReplyDeleteThis was by far the best introduction I have ever read. It was so adorable to meet you and your kids! I am curious as to why you chose this class among your College of Architecture courses. Your kids all sounds incredibly talented and so pure! They all sound like they have great hearts, and I wish you all the best in your futures!
Hi Joshua,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the break down of your introduction and the feeling of getting to know your family. Each of them sounds like they have a track that they are tied to currently and that is fantastic. Like one of your youngest, I also play the trumpet. I'm currently a fourth year Letters and Religious Studies dual major, who will be taking a fifth year to finish out and also possibly add a minor. I have been in the Pride of Oklahoma playing the trumpet for the last four years. It was nice getting to know you and good luck on your endeavors!