When she decided to enter the department of architecture at Chung Yuan Christian University, her music teacher at Taichung High School derided: "Julie Shih quits music to climb roof-tops."
及長，她發現建築更適合自己踏實的個性，因而選讀中原理工學院建築工程系。這項決定，讓她在台中女中的音樂老師陳信貞惋惜許久，逢人便說：「施麗月不學音樂，要去爬屋頂了。」