By Emma, Liaison Librarian at AUT.
I always believed I’d be a teacher, but because of my low grades I didn’t get accepted into the School of Education. The day after I got my rejection letter, my best friend suddenly passed away. I spiralled into depression; I was lost, on the dole with no direction in life. After months of grieving, my mother suggested I visit the local libraries and volunteer to get some work experience. Although none of the libraries accepted me, MIT library called me a few weeks later and offered me a paid part-time job shelving books.
Halfway through my BA I discovered my struggle was due to ADD but by then I had gained the skills and passion of a life-long learner. I spent hours both in AU and MIT’s libraries and thought it was a the kind of place I belonged. One of the librarians at MIT suggested after my BA I should apply to Victoria University’s MLIS. The week after I finished my BA, I landed my first “real job” as a library assistant at one of my old schools. An amazing thing had happened in the time between me being a student there and working there. Not only had my attitude toward libraries changed, Libraries themselves had changed. The school library went from a pokey, smelly converted classroom full of books to a purpose-built, three roomed, bright, vibrant library.
Thanks for sharing your story Emma, it was wonderfully inspiring to read.
Great story!
What a great story Emma. Sounds like AU’s Continuing Ed classes really opened some doors for you.