Today, for "Women's History Month" let's celebrate this fantastic young woman
Jessica Jolin, 38, Dreamer, Volunteer, and Founder and owner of a (currently all-female) Architecture Firm
“I Want to See What Happens if I Don’t Give Up”.
Jessica spent her childhood living around the world including in Congo, Africa, and the Australian Outback. It took her 25 years to recognize the connection between a military family lifestyle that left her longing to settle in one place and her current passions.
In 6th grade, Jessica announced to her family that she was going to be an architect. She would design and build houses. She yearned to help others find a sense of belonging. To this day, she believes whole-heartedly that bright and healthy homes can calm the feeling of everyday chaos.
Two weeks after finishing graduate school, Jessica moved herself to Maine after having fallen in love with a thumbnail photograph on Craig’s List. It showed the tall brick walls and exposed ductwork inside one of the North Dam Mill’s first apartments. It was meant to be.
She finally had a hometown! Jessica quickly began donating much of her time to Heart of Biddeford, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), and joined the board of Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center.
This past November, Jessica was instrumental in expediting the creation of a new Warming Center at SOH, so that it was ready in time for the cold weather. As a result of this collaboration, those homeless in Biddeford and surrounding towns now have a welcoming place to rest indoors at night. She is known for setting big goals and then refusing to back down or give up.
At 32, she founded Mobile Studio Design, an architecture firm focused on residential - and more recently - community-based projects. Jessica’s vision has always been clear; however, making waves in the male-dominated fields of architecture and construction continues to present challenges. Her response is a post-it note stuck to her studio wall that reads “I Want to See What Happens if I Don’t Give Up”.
On the days she takes a break from work, Jessica really enjoys sleeping in, growing peppermint for Sweetcream’s mint chip, eating a lot of mint chip ice cream, and visiting family. She has a hard time sitting still which leads to snowmobiling, kickboxing ("a work in progress," she adds) and making time to build houses on the weekend. For example: her bachelorette party was held at a 5K run/walk for Habitat for Humanity in Bath, Maine- coincidentally a few miles from where she was born, and then whisked overseas.
She continues to spend many Saturdays with her “little” (previous BBBS companion) who has grown into a beautiful young adult. They enjoy going to country music concerts together and their relationship has blossomed from mentor and mentee into best friends.
She has finally settled (the good kind!) in the woods with her husband Marcus and their adopted yellow lab. Jessica hopes to be an example to young women by showing them that through believing in yourself and working really hard, anyone can make their dream job a reality.
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