All the way through school we teach our kids that they are moving towards adulthood. That magic time when they will begin to contribute to society. When they will get a job and have to work every day. When they will delve into one of their interests and stay there for the rest of their lives.
We make students declare a major when they are 18 years old. We want them to have a plan for the rest of their lives at 18 years old. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 80% of students in the U.S. change their major at least once…. Obviously our plans that we make at 18 aren’t working out most of the time.
We ask kids continually, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” If you had asked me that for much of my time as a student I would have said, “A Teacher or a Librarian”. Following this logic I went to school to be an Elementary School Teacher. I didn’t think I could ever deal with teenagers and I was certain that this was a job I could do. Why did I think I could do this job? Because multiple people told me I should be a teacher!
That was all the proof I needed. Right? Looking back I see just how ridiculous this is. I had no real concept of what life looked like. I had no real concept of all the jobs that were available to me! It never excited me but it’s what others said I should do.
I loved music. I played 4 instruments and was a singer when I graduated High School. I could have chosen to go into music but I didn’t.
I love theater! I could have chosen to learn that craft and really delve into that. But I didn’t.
I switched to High School English in my third year of college. This added another semester but I didn’t care. One of my professors had convinced me that my personality was much better suited to Teens (I’ll agree with her on that one). I continued but I never loved my teaching classes or my observations. I really enjoyed my Linguistics classes, my History of the English Language, and Literature classes. That’s what I loved! But I pursued teaching anyways.
The semester before my student teaching, nothing was going like it was supposed to. I wasn’t getting placed, I wasn’t enjoying my classes, and I finally found something I loved doing. I got to speak to a group of women about how important they are. I got to tell them how much they mattered and that they had to power to change the world around them. I left that event and I knew that this was what I was created to do. I was created to show others how important they are. I didn’t want to teach.
I tried teaching anyways, it was bad. I left halfway through my student teaching, adding another year to my degree. I ended up with a degree in General Studies with a minor in English and Linguistics. Not impressive. I know. BUT! I loved my classes.
So then it’s time to figure out what to do with that degree. I tried Social Work for a year and a half. That did not go well for me. I began to work at a coffee shop, which I enjoyed, because I was investing in people. I didn’t have to worry about teaching a curriculum! I could just brighten their day and bring them joy! When the summer was over, I was hired at the library. I went back to my roots. Back to my childhood dream, and I love it.
(I know, you think I forgot to talk about books. I promise there is a tie-in.)
I get to interact with patrons. I get to tell them of their value! I get to give them books that will speak to their hearts! I get to let them know how much they matter! It’s amazing.
This is why I try to give kids books with all kinds of characters in them. I want them to be exposed to all their options! I don’t want them to make the mistakes I made and just do what other people think they should do. I want them to live life to the fullest and experience the wide range of the world!
So go out and find what you were created to do! It is the most fulfilling thing you will ever do! Work barely feels like work when you love it. Live life to the fullest!
Keep Sparkling!
-B
The Sparkling Librarian 