An Official Librarian in Training!

Yep, you heard me! GUYS. Here's the story:

Last December, I came home from the job from Hell and cried. It was kind of a mini nervous breakdown. I cried over the fact that I graduated from college (with honors) two and a half years ago with an amazing degree, yet my job consisted of being chained to a desk, answering phone calls from abusive customers, and working for a very abusive, uncaring company. The place stressed me out so much that I made myself extremely sick (seriously, my doctor said I have developed 15-20 new ulcers in the past year). I never, ever felt well. AND I never escaped. Even after work and on my days off, I spent all my time dreading going back. SO anyway, I sat by my Christmas tree during my favorite time of year and cried over my life. My mom and I started discussing what I should do to re-pave my future, if you will. I started thinking about what I love doing, and all I could think of was reading and blogging. After lots more talking, and some more tears, my mom and I came to the conclusion that I needed to go back to school for a Master's in Library Science. 

GRAD SCHOOL!?! I mean, honestly. When I graduated college, I never in a million years pictured volunteering for more school. More papers, tests, projects. I knew I'd have to be crazy to sign up for such a thing. Guess what? I'm crazy. I immediately started investigating grad school programs. I knew I did not want to leave Utah, and since Utah has no Master's of Library Science programs, I looked for schools with ALA accredited online programs. I found two I really liked, and started going through the application process. I contacted old teachers and professors for letters of recommendation, I studied for and took the MAT, I wrote entrance essays, etc. It took months! 

I JUST found out that I was accepted into Valdosta State University's Library and Information Science program, and I am SO excited! It was my first choice, and I've actually quit the application process for the other school I was applying to. I'm road tripping it (with my mom, of course) out to Valdosta, Georgia for orientation in August, and will get things all set up then. The program is completely online, so I can still have my life here.

I am really excited, and nervous (have I forgotten how to be a student!?), and I'm not even sure what to expect. But I know I'm doing the right thing. I quit my job from Hell, and can focus on school. I think I'll go back to substitute teaching. :)