As a rather introverted person, I often share very little of my personality with those people who I do not know well. This isn’t necessarily intended – I’m simply tend to be very quiet. I don’t often talk to people unless they talk to…

Good luck!

Thanks

Part of my joy in turning 30 was the sense that I was getting past the rigid boxes of life people try to squeeze us in. You might enjoy The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis (a nice short read, btw). It’s a religious book in part, but you can set aside that theme and focus on what it’s really about: the baggage we drag with us.

I think also that a lot of us have these negative self-images and stories, and part of what lets us move out of our preconceived notions of ourselves is to find a place where we truly fit — librarianship being that place for you. I know I’m a different and more confident person at, say, a library conference than at a non-library social or networking event.

Obviously I only know you through your blog, but I never would have guessed any of that about you. You come across as totally self-possessed, confident and intelligent. I think we all go through our own version of the things you describe from high school and college. I look back now and sometimes I think that I’m a completely different person, but when I look more closely I see that the possibilities for who I am now were there all along. It just took some perspective — the kind that you can only get with growing up and getting out in the world.

I also recently discovered that I can talk in front of large groups of people without getting so nervous I feel like I’m shaking. And, I actually enjoy it! Go figure. And I also came to library school without having ever worked in a library . . . and it was the best decision I’ve made yet!

Anyway, rock on with your bad self. I can’t wait to see your book.