“. . .We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep;
Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away:
It is the same! -For, be it joy or sorrow,
The path of its departure still is free:
Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow;
Nought may endure but Mutablilty.”
- From “Mutability” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
From the very first visit I made to the Library of Congress, in school, I knew that I wanted to work there. The historical, political, and cultural significance contained in those buildings is inspiring and every minute detail of the Jefferson Building contains a symbol reflecting our national heritage or an homage to the other cultures that influenced on our founding fathers. There are many people in this world who, from a young age, know exactly what they want to do with the rest of their lives and some of them are even fortunate enough to attain those aspirations. For the rest of us, however, our lives tend to be a series of compromises which slow our individual growth and interfere with our professional journey.
My younger sister and I were the first in our family to even consider going to college and, growing up, we were always told we would have to win scholarships. Our parents had lived paycheck to paycheck and, even though they wanted something better for their children, they did not have the means to provide for the educational foundation we would need. But they laid a very prominent corner stone by instilling their value of education in us. Indeed, I worked diligently in high school and received a scholarship from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). My parents were unable to advise me when it came to applications, financial aid, college courses, or selecting a major. I learned to be self reliant in wading through all the information and bold in seeking out counsel from advisers or professors. I still had to work a full time job while attending classes to cover the remaining cost of my education. It was often a struggle but it helped me develop exceptional time management skills and I know that everything I have accomplished has come from my own perseverance.
It wasn't until I was a sophomore in college that my mother's health became a cause for concern. My parents divorced when I was eleven, so the responsibility of my mother's care fell to me. I spent most of that year attending classes, visiting in the hospital, and working full eight hour shifts at my job. The struggle to maintain my grade point average while dealing with these outside problems brought me to the decision to take a year off from school. It was one of the hardest choices I've ever had to make. I wanted to pursue my own dreams but couldn't deny the help my family needed and my divided attention would only cause both to suffer. I learned that it is better to do something well than to spread one's self too thin trying to maintain everything. After a heart stent was implanted in her left anterior descending artery, and her physical health vastly improved, I felt I could return the majority of my attention back to school.
Upon graduating from UMBC, I found it difficult to get a job with the federal government let alone in my field of study. The economy was slowing down and, without an advanced degree, my future at the Library of Congress was in doubt. I had envisioned a job in Editing, Substitute Teaching, or the Library Sciences, but my first job offer came from the Accounting department of a custom home builder and I've always felt that any positive opportunity is an experience waiting to happen. Still, it was surprising to discover how the analytical skills I had developed in undergrad dovetailed with the skills I acquired working in Accounting. When that company folded, during the beginning of the housing crisis, I had several months to re-evaluate my professional path and decided that, with my work experience, it was still possible for me to aim for a position at the Library of Congress though not the one originally envisioned.
During the years I was pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, it seemed that my life was nothing but compromises; for my family, my full-time job, and my budget. My personal goal of working at the Library of Congress was pushed further and further away until it seemed almost unattainable. But life is about change and growing from those changes. Without these challenges we would not have the opportunity to push our individual boundaries and learn all that we're capable of achieving. I know that I have the discipline to make my studies a priority, the strength to make difficult life decisions, and the resilience to accept change.
It wasn't until I was a sophomore in college that my mother's health became a cause for concern. My parents divorced when I was eleven, so the responsibility of my mother's care fell to me. I spent most of that year attending classes, visiting in the hospital, and working full eight hour shifts at my job. The struggle to maintain my grade point average while dealing with these outside problems brought me to the decision to take a year off from school. It was one of the hardest choices I've ever had to make. I wanted to pursue my own dreams but couldn't deny the help my family needed and my divided attention would only cause both to suffer. I learned that it is better to do something well than to spread one's self too thin trying to maintain everything. After a heart stent was implanted in her left anterior descending artery, and her physical health vastly improved, I felt I could return the majority of my attention back to school.
Upon graduating from UMBC, I found it difficult to get a job with the federal government let alone in my field of study. The economy was slowing down and, without an advanced degree, my future at the Library of Congress was in doubt. I had envisioned a job in Editing, Substitute Teaching, or the Library Sciences, but my first job offer came from the Accounting department of a custom home builder and I've always felt that any positive opportunity is an experience waiting to happen. Still, it was surprising to discover how the analytical skills I had developed in undergrad dovetailed with the skills I acquired working in Accounting. When that company folded, during the beginning of the housing crisis, I had several months to re-evaluate my professional path and decided that, with my work experience, it was still possible for me to aim for a position at the Library of Congress though not the one originally envisioned.
During the years I was pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, it seemed that my life was nothing but compromises; for my family, my full-time job, and my budget. My personal goal of working at the Library of Congress was pushed further and further away until it seemed almost unattainable. But life is about change and growing from those changes. Without these challenges we would not have the opportunity to push our individual boundaries and learn all that we're capable of achieving. I know that I have the discipline to make my studies a priority, the strength to make difficult life decisions, and the resilience to accept change.
