I’m moving to London!*
*For a year, to be exact! I’ll be studying in the 2021-22 MA/MSc Library Science program at City, University of London.
I’m sure you’re wondering, “Why libraries?”. Here’s the medium version of the background story:
Soon after I started my journey in youth work in Boston, MA, I knew my purpose was rooted in supporting young people and their communities. However, I was never fully sure about how I exactly wanted to do that. I had youth work experience in mentoring, youth/community organizing, and the arts, but I knew I had to look back to when I was a young person and think about the meaningful and transformative experiences I had — and the places I had them.
Enter the library. In the Bronx, NY, I used to stop by the library after school every day, meet up with my friends from the neighborhood, chat it up with the children’s librarian (Ms. Rose), check out what new books were around, and help set up for the day’s children’s program. Once I was legally able to work there at 14 years old, I immediately applied for a Page position and started working there until I had to pursue a full-time summer internship. Back then, I never even thought about being a librarian although the librarians I knew (Ms. Rose in the public library and the late Ms. Capetola in my school’s library) were some of my favorite people that I had special connections with.
Fast-forward back to these last 5-6 years. As I was thinking about how and where I wanted to do youth work, I thought back to these experiences and also thought about the role libraries have and can play in communities. Libraries are one of, if not the only, free publicly accessible spaces in communities. Anyone can walk into a library. Beyond book borrowing, I have seen and engaged with libraries as study spaces, safe havens, resource centers, meeting spaces for community organizing, and hangout spots — to only name a few. I thought about how the library was one of the few places available to me where I could be and was welcomed as a young person.
Young people still don’t have a lot of those spaces today or their designated spaces are not really created for or suited to them. Thankfully, I have seen major library renovations take place that are being more intentional about teen spaces and those who staff them. And I believe there is a potential for so so so much more. I believe that libraries have the unique opportunity to be a catalyst for transformative youth and community development. I believe we can create a better world where young people are sufficiently nurtured to learn and become who they are meant to be through the support of their communities that have, in turn, been supported and strengthened by their library. I know this is the work I’m meant to be a part of.
That’s why I’m in this journey. Really, it’s only one step in a life-long journey. And yes, I do wear a lot of hats. They all have purpose and are all connected to helping me live a full life. This is only one of them.
“Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.”
Now, you might be thinking, “Why grad school?”
I know. Honestly, I’m not thrilled at how expensive and inaccessible graduate school (higher education, in general) can be. I’m also not the biggest fan of the fact that most librarian roles require a master’s in library science. However, while I hope we can continue to change the image and expectations of what we think library workers are and what libraries can be, I do appreciate the process of learning — and especially learning about this field I want to enter. Knowing myself, I knew if I were to pursue graduate school, I would want to give my all to it and get the most out of the experience. In terms of graduate programs, I knew programs abroad were half the time/cost than programs in the U.S. and felt more accessible for me to apply to. In terms of location, I always had a particular interest in learning about youth development in the U.K. That led me to learning about City, University of London’s program at least a year before I actually committed to applying.
Life has a funny way of working out and a beautiful way of affirming you when you make the decision to follow what is calling you.
So here I am about to be a graduate school student, move out of DC/USA, live somewhere new for a year, close a lot of chapters, start new ones, and embark on what I know will be one of the most transformative and dynamic years of my life. I have so many emotions and so many things on my mind (and to-do list). Above all, I am so excited for this and I am so grateful that you’re joining, following, and supporting me on this journey.
Cheers to all that this journey holds! 🥂
“The thing to do, it seems to me, is to prepare yourself so you can be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud.”
P.S. The canvas photo of London was taken by someone I unfortunately can’t make the name out of the signature (if you know, please tell me!), but I actually won it in a raffle back in 2014 (or 2015?) at my job then. And I’ve always had it on my wall since. Maybe that was visual manifestation before I even knew it was a thing?!
