If you don’t know already, I am currently in graduate school. My course of study is in Library and Information Science and I am focusing on Young Adult Services. However, I am going to try my best to take courses in either Reference or Technical Services so I can have options open. But this post isn’t really about that. Well, it is, but it isn’t. Does that make sense? Let me clarify.
When I first began toying with the idea of going to graduate school I was a little overwhelmed. I have always been someone who is interested in almost everything. I guess you could say that I liked to learn. I did a little research and come to find out –Library and Information Science = the perfect fit! I was really excited this summer when I found out that I was going to library school. However, the excitement died down when people started questioning my decision. And the thing about it is that these aren’t people that matter! They were random friends, strangers, and distance relatives. Every time I would tell someone I was going to library school, they would always say one of three things: “You can get a degree in that?”; “Why would you want to do that? There is no money in it…”; and, my all time favorite “Well what about your theater degree? How are you going to incorporate that into your Masters degree?”
Before I go into those three things, I want to give you a little background about me. I am a shy person. Behind this blog and these words, there is a quiet little nerd who likes to read and, sometimes, write. The first time someone approached me with these questions, I felt ashamed of what I knew to be my calling. I didn’t want to have to defend myself to people. I never have. Then I got really annoyed. And now I am to the point where I don’t really care what other people have to say because, and this is a real kicker, IT’S MY LIFE!
Now to address the questions.
1) “You can get a degree in that?” – Uh, yeah. You can get a degree in just about anything. What people don’t realize is a librarian is more than just a book retriever. We research and study research sources. Everyone can Google something, pull it off a page, and call it a resource. Librarians find the good stuff. The quality research that is going to get you what you really need. That isn’t something everyone can do.
2) “Why would you want to do that? There is no money in it…” – Honey, if I were in it for the money – I wouldn’t be in it. Plain and simple. I understand life is hard without money, but money isn’t everything. If I wanted to be rich I would have gone with a business or law degree. Those options aren’t for me. Librarians tend to be service oriented in nature. They generally also tend to want to better society, whether through literary/outreach programs or advisory services. To me that is just as rewarding as monetary gain. Working in retail for the past two years has really shown me what people are really like. There are nice people and there are not so nice people. My retail job has shown me that I like to help people find what they are looking for. It makes me feel good.
3) “Well what about your theater degree? How are you going to incorporate that into your Masters degree?” – I love theater. It’s great. Like all art, it’s a true reflection of society. Society fascinates me. But theater is also cut throat and a real networking type environment. To succeed you have to have passion and determination. Those are things I don’t have for theater. I love it, but I can’t see myself making a career out of it. Also, I don’t feel that my undergraduate degree really prepared me for the work environment in theater. I am getting more out of this Master’s degree than I did with my theater degree. And that’s the truth. The amount of ways I can incorporate my theater degree with my Library degree is infinite. There are no limitations. That’s one of the things I LOVE about this (library) degree. I can take any skill set that I learn and apply it anywhere.
All I am really trying to say is do what you love and don’t let no body stop you. People don’t matter. YOU matter. What YOU want matters. YOU know what is best for YOU. Do you get where I am going with this? Good.
Yes, this was a completely random post, but it’s been sitting heavy on my mind for a while. It’s also something I think that I needed to say, but couldn’t put into verbal form. Because, you know, us introverts have trouble communicating verbally.
What do you think? Do you feel like you have to defend your life decisions sometimes?
Jayla
I hate how people feel like they have the right to stomp all over your life decisions just because it isn’t exactly what they would do.
You do you and keep on doing what you are passionate about.
That is one of my pet peeves about people. Does it kill someone to be open-minded? I don’t really think so. I am still in the process of learning to let go of what other people think about my life choices and decisions.
Thanks for the kind words, April.
What YOU want matters. YOU know what is best for YOU. Do you get where I am going with this? Good. <~~ YES!
Good for you! Stay on YOUR path, you know what you're doing.
I do and you know what, it feels awesome! Thanks Jennifer!
I know how you feel more than you can know. I grew up with a fierce love of the ocean’s inhabitants, especially dolphins and coral reef habitats. I took Marine Bio in high school, spent summers participating in science camps and the like. I was going to apply to the best school in Florida and be a dolphin researcher.
Then I let most of the adults I know talk me out of it. I heard the same bullshit “You’re going to starve. Researchers work of grant money. Blah blah blah.” So I was lost for a while as I changed majors a few times.
10 years later, I find myself in a career that I feel very passionate about, working on a GRANT FUNDED project. I’m a social worker now, and we no doubt make just as little or less than those dolphin researchers, And honestly, I don’t even know if that statement was true! I was young and impressionable, and I am still upset that I allowed people to talk me out of my lifelong dream.
I may have a new dream now, but I still think about my old one all the time. I am SO happy to hear that you put your foot down. It is YOUR life. End of the damn story, yo.
P.S. I’m like you too! I want to do and try everything! I almost changed majors to library science once. I LOVE doing information research. <—geek.
There have been times during my undergrad where I heard that majoring in theater wasn’t a good idea, but I think it really showed me a lot about myself and other people. Plus, it’s where I met my fiancee!
It’s nice to know that I am not alone in this and I have the support of you and so many other bloggers. It makes me feel really great! But it’s great that you have a new dream now. We are also humans and humans tend to change. I think I really figured out my love for researching when I was working on my senior project. I am on that geek status right there with you!
Good for you for sticking up for your choices!! I am a college student advisor, and it’s very disheartening when one of my students makes a major/career choice, and then gets hounded about it by parents/friends/random strangers. No one should make you question what you’re doing if you’re passionate about it!
I am not going to lie, I changed my major twice during my undegrad, but that was because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Now I have a little better understand and it feels awesome!
You are right though. No one should question what you are passionate about. It’s YOUR passion, not the person sitting next to you.
Whoot Whoot! I love it Jayla. People really just don’t know though. They don’t know there questions come across. Take it from me. I’m going to be one of those people with a law degree who won’t make a ton of money. People ask me why I’m not working at. Firm nd making tons of money. It’s none of their business but I ont want to work 80 hours a week. I want to live my life. And reall! Is that such a bad thing? Good for you!
Thank Alexis! If you are passionate about something I don’t think money should really be your main objective. I think you should really be focused on doing what you love. Money should be a 2nd option.
80 hours a week is a little much for me. Plus, how would you be able to keep up with Reflections if you were working all the time.
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You know, I think it is horrid when people try to project their ideas of success on other people! I get it all the time because I chose not to go to college when I was younger. I say chose because I had scholarships and just couldn’t decide what I wanted to do. I fell into a career (that yes I love) but would have never chosen if given a list. There is nothing wrong with following your heart and doing what you want too. As long as you can live with the plus and minus of your choice then it is no one else’s business. Every career has good and bad points—money won’t make up the difference if you hate or feel uncomfortable doing something day in and day out!
Great Post!
Thanks. I agree that everything has good and bad points. Money doesn’t make people happy. To be honest, going to grad school was something I was totally against when I graduate from undergrad, but then I felt the pull of the library and information science calling me so I decided to go with my gut. It buys you material things, but it doesn’t MAKE you happy.
Thanks for the encouragement, Felicia!