Confessions of a Procrastinator

1
Confessions of a Procrastinator

• A look at the interests and diversions which
  eventually led to my arrival _at_ SLAIS UBC

As told by Heidi Schroder, for the benefit of
Foundations of Information TechnologyLIBR500 sch
rodeh_at_interchange.ubc.ca
2
Growing up, I had 3 professional aspirations

• Nurse

• Author of fictional short stories novels

• Teacher

I figured I didnt really need to commit to
anything until college . . . .
3
. . . .And, when I arrived at Pacific University

• I had expectations that a passion would take
  holdthat a sign-post would point the way
• In the meantime, I studied, and hung out with
  friends

4
Eventually, I pondered my future . . .
What about the Library??

• By the time I was halfway through undergrad, I
  had volunteered and/or worked for

• The Washington State Library system

• Pacific University Library

(Double-click a link to visit either library
online learn about its collections)
I liked libraries but I was unsure about making
it a career. I decided to contemplate career
possibilities in a different setting . . .
5
When an opportunity arose to study abroad, I went
to London

• To, uh, study. . . .

I studied the markets. . .
6
. . . .And I contemplated the architectural
structural differences between Llansteffan Castle
in Wales
Warwick Castle in England . . . .
7
I also compared contrasted the view from a
punt on the River Cam
. . . .with the view of Irelands coastline from
the road
8
But Wait. . .

• I had scholarly experiences while abroad

• I studied at the University of North London
  (UNL). . . . I took a British History course
  which was great prep for writing my B.A. thesis.
• UNL merged with another University and underwent
  a name change in 2002. Read a short history of
  the north campus here.

MEANWHILE, ON THE CAREER FRONT . . . .
9

• I also interned at the United Nations
  Association-UK in London

• UNA-UK is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)

• The internship exposed me to working in
  Communications, which I hadnt previously
  considered

• UNA-UK is independent of the U.N. and can both
  campaign for U.N. policies lobby for U.N. reform

UNA branches are all over the world Visit UNA-UK
here.
10
By the Conclusion of my Semester Abroad I Realized

• I loved traveling and didnt want to come home

• I had to write a thesis

• No signpost or path had emerged to point in a
  clear direction . . . .
• though I enjoyed interacting with the public
  through my internship.

11
Of course, I

• Came home, wrote a thesis, burned-out on school
  and panicked about a seemingly directionless
  future

• With my History B.A. still in deep
  contemplation, I decided I wasnt ready to return
  to school--yet.

Yes, I am standing in front of Pacific University
Library (1967-2005). Pacifics new library
opened in Fall 2005!
12
While Waiting for Clarity

• I left academics got a jobin healthcare

• I passed my driving test I got a license a
  car

• I paid off my undergraduate loans

• I indulged my love of music I read books I
  became an avid movie-watcher

All while relying heavily on the unconditional
love support of my human (and non-human)
family/friends. Thank you!!!
13
Im not sure exactly when in 2004 I realized

• I was bored at work
• I genuinely wanted to return to school
• I missed working in libraries, now that I had
  experienced other work environments

So I took a walk and Im going in the right
direction now. Im excited about my future again,
and having a goal . . . Visually, I guess Its
like . . . .
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Going from this . . .
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To this, which is much calmer, I think. . .
For me, SLAIS is both a means to an end, and a
beginning--
I dont know yet where Ill end up after SLAIS.
But knowing Im doing the right thing for me is a
wonderful feeling . . . .
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Credits
Photos taken by Heidi Schroder except
Slides s 11, 15, 16Jennie Rodriguez
Slide 3 (lower right)Hannah
Background images/templates/clip art on Slides s
1-2, 8-10 from MS PowerPoint 2003
Special thanks to friends, and to the
librarians/information professionals who gave me
work experience thus helped me get to SLAIS