I now recognize mistakes for what they really are: great learning opportunities.
One of my core values is lifelong learning. I greatly enjoy learning new things and challenging myself.
My brother Steve, who is two years my elder, was always the smartest guy in his class throughout high school. Steve was able to get straight A’s seemingly without effort. That’s not to disparage his work ethic (ok, maybe a little bit), but Steve seemed to have a “mind for school work”. This was not the case for me. I struggled much more and had to work hard for my grades. I remember talking with my parents at an early age when they were seriously considering holding me back one year. But as it turned out, this was not necessary, and I eventually learned that dedication and hard work was what I needed to succeed. Looking back, I believe it was this early struggle that instilled in me a feeling of perseverance that has not left me to this day. It taught me that if I work hard enough at something, I WILL eventually learn and understand it.
I have carried that with me through an undergraduate degree, two Masters degrees, and a graduate certificate. With each new degree, I felt that things came a little bit easier. A little more quickly than the time before. I found myself not repeating the same mistakes, organizing my files right from day one, learning to manage my time properly to meet deadlines, making to-do lists for major and minor tasks, and many more small lessons or rules that were developed one by one, often through having made mistakes. Learning through mistakes has been one of my greatest assets, and something that I hold dear. I now recognize mistakes for what they really are: great learning opportunities.
This motivation to keep challenging myself and learning is something that drew me to work at a library. Here, you are part of a hub of knowledge that continues to grow, change, and evolve. As Data Analyst, I have had the chance to work with a multitude of researchers, faculty members, and students on a wide range of interdisciplinary projects. This has opened my eyes to ongoing research in many fields, and has given me a greater appreciation for the breadth of knowledge that I am surrounded with. I consider myself lucky to be in a position to support others in their own learning!
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