Thankful to be. . . “Library Girl”

    The other day at school one of our kindergarteners couldn’t remember my name. He said “Hey, hey, hi, hi Ms. . . Miss. .  . Ms. .  Hi Library Girl!”  I laughed and laughed  and then laughed some more.  I love that!  I started to wonder and think about how I went from the Social Studies teacher to Library Girl. . .
     Have you ever wondered what would have happened if you’d gone left instead of right?  Or asked that question? Or taken that chance? I have been reminded lately of the best decision I ever made.  When I make a list of the things I am thankful for, this is near the top of my list.
     Raise your hand if you know I have a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Florida State University!  I thought so. . . Most people who know me know that!
     But here is what some of you DON”T know:  Two professors at FSU got a brilliant idea to transform classroom teachers into school media specialists.  They wrote a plan and  got a HUGE amount of financial help from the Laura Bush Foundation to turn that idea into reality.  Doctors  Eliza Dresang and Nancy Everhart created this whole thing called Project LEAD, and that’s how I got my degree.
     Way back in 2006, somehow I got an email from our district media services person. There was a meeting about this brand new program that would help teachers become school media specialists. There were going to be six spots in our county – and a meeting on September 11, 2006.   That was my fork in the road – and the choice I made has literally changed my life. I went to that meeting, met Dr. D and Dr. E and the rest, as they say, is history.
     We started class in January 2007.  It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.  Looking back those  2 1/2 years just sort of seem like a big blur. I learned so much more than I ever thought I needed to learn,  and was stretched so far out of my comfort zone.  Part of that time included my 6 week trip to London in the summer of 2008,  an absolutely fabulous trip, but again, way out of my comfort zone. I could count on one hand the times I’d been in a different STATE than my family, but to be in a completely different CONTINENT?  For 6 weeks?  I’d spent TWO nights in my life EVER in a hotel room alone.   It was hard, but it was good!
     Here’s the most surprising thing.  Somehow, along the way, my professor, Dr. Everhart, along with her husband Harry, turned into my friends.  I’m not sure how or when it happened – it may have been the 6 weeks in London.  Maybe the time we were both got carsick on the bus on the way to Stratford –on-Avon was the bond.  (I’m not sure but I think throwing up together may do it! )  I know  she moved to the “One of My Most Favorite People Ever List”  – when she found grits for me in London! I know it sounds silly, but I’m a Southern girl and I missed my grits!
     Oh and her husband, Harry? We just clicked. We talked about middle schoolers and there was just a connection there!  I read his blog (and so should you – it’s great – (http://everhart.blogspot.com/)
Since our graduation, we’ve seen each other here and there,  off and on. We’ve had dinner together a few times when they were in the area. I was looking at my old emails and when I got the media specialist job at my old school – I sent Harry an email. When I got my new job at my new school this year, I sent Harry an email!   For years, they have invited me to their home to visit Tallahassee.  So, finally I decided to take them up on it and headed north on November 10th.  had a fabulous weekend – but  that’s a story for another day!

     Here’s the thing. . . I can’t even imagine what my life would be like now if I hadn’t attended that meeting on September 11, 2006.  If I’d decided the GRE was just too hard, or I didn’t want to write that essay, what I would have missed. Today is Thanksgiving – and we think about the things we’re grateful for. I’m grateful that Dr. D and Dr. E had an idea. I’m grateful the Laura Bush Foundation funded that idea. I’m grateful that I could get my degree while I was still working, grateful we could do class in our pajamas at home.   I’m grateful for the friends I made along the way – the other girls in my county, the other Project LEAD people, for Dr. E and Harry. I’m so, so grateful for the opportunity I was given. I’m thankful that because of that, I get to be “Library Girl!”