Despite 15 years of various library positions from volunteer to library associate, this was my first opportunity to work as a “real” librarian. My confidence in myself and my abilities have grown exponentially over the past eight months. I feel like I learned more and became better prepared for a career in librarianship during my PFE than in my entire graduate school experience.
Before my internship I had focused all of my energy and education on becoming a Young Adult librarian, but now I could happily apply for any position. Through the Lifelong Learning Outcome I have overcome my fear of public speaking and can assertively teach a class or program to any demographic with poise and personality. Fulfilling the Digital Media Outcome through my use of technology in library service has allowed me to expand what technology I use in future library endeavors and keep up with my user base. By subscribing to the Leadership and Ethics Outcome I have continued to learn and better myself during this experience and gained real-world knowledge of our ethical code in action. All of these outcomes, taken together have served to to meet the Foundations Outcome by strengthen and widen the skills and abilities I drew on to complete the programming, teaching and Teenspace tasks my mentors asked of me and employers will continue to ask of me as I set sail on my career.
