At the Library

The positive influence that working at the Washington Public Library has had on me is immeasurable.

The fourth voicemail on my phone is a message from Debbie Stanton on August 29th, 2013, asking me to come in for an interview at the library. In 2013, I couldn?t believe I was already turning 16, but at the same time I couldn?t wait for the final two years of high school to be over so I could leave town and go to college. Time was passing both too quickly and not fast enough and I felt like a giant contradiction. The things I was trying desperately to postpone??growing up, having responsibilities, being independent??were proven to be worth it when I started working my first job. So much joy and fulfillment delivered itself into my hands when I walked through those front doors to come in for my shifts at the library. For the first time, I began to feel a deep connection to the town I?d already been living in for five years. Every day I worked, I was greeted with open hearts and unwavering support from the librarians on staff who brought irreplaceable light into my life. Opportunities to use the things I knew and grow in the areas I was lacking came down like rain. While I definitely can?t attribute all that I have become to my job at the library, I can certainly say that working there has been an important element in making the transition from being a confused teenager to being sure of myself and ready, now, to take on college with poise and courage.

My job at The Washington Public Library came to me at a crossroad and today I leave that job, my family, my friends, and the town of Washington, Iowa, at another crossroad. I know the sting of goodbyes all too well, but one thing I am sure of is that each mile I travel brings me closer to the subsequent phase of my life, which promises new people, different experiences, and more opportunities to grow.

You will find me next as an English major in Oklahoma, concerned about getting good grades, laughing with friends, and thinking of home often. I carry these priceless memories with me as I go. Thank you, thank you, thank you.