The transition from undergrad to graduate school is a difficult one. When coming to IU I did not know anyone and had no real understanding of what graduate school was even going to be like. I have known for a very long time that I have wanted to go to library school. My mom is a librarian and I have always loved books and helping others. But I did not know how challenging it all would be.

Coming into graduate school I had a lot of experience working in archives, courses in archives, and a minor in museum studies that had a deep focus on collection management. That is what drew me to pursue an internship in an archive this semester. But what I was not familiar with were oral histories and audio collections. I wanted to utilize my time in this program by exposing myself to things I have never heard of or thought of before. I am so thankful that this opportunity presented itself and that I now have a deeper understanding of managing an audio collection. It has also shown me what it would be the loan archival employee of a collection. My supervisor, Dr. Barbara Truesdell is an amazing person. She does so much to maintain and highlight the CDRP’s collection and she definitely is a model for what I would like to be in the future if placed in an archive of my own.

Something else that I have been meditating on is how imposter syndrome has affected my experience. It has been very easy to feel like I don’t belong in this program and that I am going to fail. But this semester and this internship have helped me see that I do belong. I have been able to prove to myself that I am good at archival work. That at the end of my time at IU I will be a thoughtful and well-trained information professional, ready for a position wherever I choose.

I am eternally thankful for this experience.