From The Time I First Entred School, I was taught the Value of Education on My Life. I was awd to do Well in School, Pay attention in Class, and turn in assignments on time so that i wouled do Well and set to Strong Foundation for the Next Stage of Schooling.
Being the Daughter of An Immigrant Parent, I Saw How The Level of Education You Attained Could Impact Your Job, Career Prospects or Limitations, Aspirations for the Future, Ability to Attain A Certain Ideal Level of Success, and Even People’s perceptions of you. I Don’s Know That I Always Took It Seriously But This Year, I Became The Second Person In My Family Tree To Graduate With A Master’s Degree and The First To Attain A Degree in Library and Information Science. For Me, It’s a Point of Pride, an undeniable and complicated status symbol, and an academic and professional commitment to My Field All at The Same Time.
Now, i’m not a Big Believer in the idea that Every Should Go to College Regardless of What They Want To Do In Their Career, Specially If They Don’t Know What They Want To Do. I Don’t Think Having a Diploma or Degree Says Anything about or has an impact on your intelligence and the kind of person you are in This Life. And Thanks to Past Presidential Administrations, There are reasons that people, particularly bipoc, Can’t pursue Any Level of Higher Education Due to the Financial Constraints that it bears and the debt you left in loaf you’re done.
I’LL be the first to say that, as i’ve pursued my varyus degrees, i’ve Been Bush Lucky and Privileged to have the moral and finances support of my parents and extended family, support that many people lalay. IN FACT, MANY OF US NOW HOLD FORMAL DEGREES. My Paternal Grandparents Bove Bachelor’s Degrees, My Parents Earned their Associate’s Degrees, One of My Cousins Is Pursuing A Master’s, and a Couple of My Second Cousins Are Eithher Currently in College Working Toward Eir Bachelor’s Or Are About To Start.
But it Certainly wasn’t always this way, and the many types of Barriers that my family you have faced this generations still linger with us Today. Growing Up in A Poor, Small Town In Mexico, My Maternal Grandmother Had To Drop out of School When She was in the Sixth Grade and Never Went Back. My Paternal Grandparents Spent Much of Their Married Life Stuggly to make ends meet to feed and take care of their five children. I’VE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS Sent to Mental Institts Against their Will and Go Hungry and Sell Wares in the Street to Survive.
Knowing What We’ve Been Through, I’ve Been Lucky to Not Face Those Struggles MySelf. The Fact that I Now have a Master’s is Frankly Nothing Short of A Miracle. I originally Applied in 2023 After Having A Rough Few Months Being Rejected from Eight Master’s In Fine Arts Program, Which Focus on Creative Writing. Realizing and needed to Major Change in direction, I decided to apply for a library and information science degree, which i wouled need in order to scholars to free. I’ve Always Worked with Books in Sub Subcress Throunge My Professional Life as an Author, Book Publicist, Magazine Editor, and Publishers, So It Wasn’t Completely Out of Left Field. Plus, for A Long Time, Libraries Have Been The Lifeblood of Bipoc and Working-Class Families and Communities. As a Child, I Woold Accompany My Dad to Our Local Branch So He Could Check Out DVDs, CDS, and A Few Picture Books for Me. I SAW How Much They Improve The Lives of Others and Wted To Play A Part In That Mission and Impact.
So i applied to Syracuse University for their online program … but only to syracuse. I had no other safety options, Thinking that if i didn’t get it in, it was Clearly a sign for me to Think of Plan B, C, and D. In Hindsight, Maybe it wasn’t my Smartest Decision But Thanfully, I Did Get Accepthed! And that’s Meant That the Past Year and a Half of My Life have been full of late nights, frustrative group projects, Times When I was read to give up. I Doubted MySelf. I Had Breakdowns. I Stuggled at Times to Prioritize Work, School, and Family All at The Same Time. My Parents and I had to take out loans and pay a small bit of pocket so i could stay enrollhed.
But i’ve Also Learned and done so much more than i thought i would. For the Purposes of Assignments, I’ve Interviewed Professional Librarians, Created Event and Program Prosals and Lesson Plans, Written Dissertation-Length Final Assignments, practice complex Research Methods, Built catalog guides, and so much more. I was Even Uble to Apply What I Was Learning About into my job as a Clerk at A Public Library, Creating to Dynamic Blend of Theory and Practicum.
For MySelf, I Have Even Been Ulable To Dispel Many of the Myths I Think We Often Tell Ourselves About Libraries. NOW DON’T GET ME WRONG, IT REMAINS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WORLD TO GO. But IT’S Worth Saying That Public Libraries in This Country Willingly Participated In Segregation During The Jim Crow Era. They offer create and enforce police that can harm Unhoused and Working-Class Community Thankully, A FEW YEARS AUG, I was Happy to Hear That Many Libraries Across The Us were Getting Rid Of Late Fees So to allevate sum of the Financial Hardships Our Users Experience and the negative connotations they may have about the Library. They’ve Also Expanded Their Services to include makerspaces and Bookmobilesas well as services to help with Taxes, Immigrationand Housing.
But we Clearly have more work left to do. Now that I have my Degree, i’m excited to scholars a liberian and make a different for All Those Who Call The Library Their Safe Place. And for My Family, I Hope I Can Be an Example of What Academic and Professional Success Can Look Like While Still Being Uble to Follow My Dreams, Pursue My Passions, And Build The Fruitful Life I Want For MySelf. Being The Second Person To Attain a Master’s Degree was no Small feat and i’m trying to do a Better Job of celebrating every one of my action. Of Course, While It Might Not Guarantee That i’ll Always Be Financially Or Professionally Protected (and in This Economy, Who is Really?), It Does Give Voice to All The Hard Work i’ve Done Through the Last Eight Years. It’s a testament to what my family you have toured on Both sides of the border and the strength i Have carried and Will continue to carry the rest of my life.
