23/06/2026
Not every successful architect follows the path people expect.
Before becoming a specialist in architectural lighting design, Ar. Nikki Escalona-Tayag questioned whether she was talented enough to succeed in architecture at all. Surrounded by classmates whose work seemed far ahead of her own, she faced the same doubts many students and young professionals experience.
Instead of trying to be like everyone else, she chose a different approach: finding a niche where her strengths could create value.
In this personal reflection, Ar. Nikki shares how self-doubt, curiosity, and persistence led her from architecture school to New York and ultimately to building a specialized practice in a field that was once largely unfamiliar in the Philippines.
Her story is a reminder that success is not always about following the traditional path. Sometimes it begins with recognizing what makes you different.
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