Friday, July 1, 2011

Book Repair

The best job I ever had was when I worked at the BYU library. I was hired the summer after I graduated from high school. I was really nervous about going to college, and I was so glad that Myrna offered me a job. I had a few months before school started to figure out the campus and make friends. I am so grateful for that first summer there. I have always been kind of shy, and I don't like talking to people I don't know. I'd only been working there for about a week when I was invited to lunch at Olive Garden. I really debated whether or not to go, but I did and I am so glad. Everyone made me feel included, even though I was still a newbie. All the friends I made before school started helped me become more confident and able to make friends in my ward and classes. 

I had a rather unique position. I was hired to be part of the Music and Dance Library on the 4th floor, but I mainly worked downstairs in Book Repair handling all of the music scores and books. A few MAD (music and dance) students worked down there, but not to the extent I did. I only worked a few hours a week on the 4th floor. I felt like I had the best of both worlds. I had friends upstairs and downstairs. Eventually I stopped working upstairs and only worked in Book Repair. I didn't mind really, I loved every minute I spent working down there. The only bad thing was that I didn't really know the MAD students anymore. When new people came, I never got to know them and they didn't know me. Eventually, I was officially transferred to Book Repair and no longer had Myrna as my boss. But James was also a really good boss. 

It's probably weird to talk about how much I loved my job, but it wasn't just the work, it was the people. Through my job, I met so many wonderfully amazing people. A lot of the students were international, so I learned a lot about other cultures. I learned about Mauritius, Slovakia, Kenya, Columbia, and many other countries I didn't know very much about. I made so many friends. I felt so comfortable going to work. I could tell them anything. They helped me get through the hard times, and laughed with me (and sometimes at me) during the good times. 

I will never forget the experiences I had and the people I met. My one regret is that I didn't work enough. I was going through a phase and I skipped a lot of school and work hours. I really wish I hadn't done that. Not only would my gpa be better, but I would have had more awesome experiences. I am so grateful for each and every person I worked with. They are the kind of friends I may not ever see again, but that I will love forever. Before I get too sappy, I'll just end by saying that I love Book Repair. It was one of the best times of my life and I really miss working there. From gluing parties with Matt, pulling pranks with and on Cliff, being relentlessly teased by Adam, and just talking with Angela, I had a great time. I would not be the person I am today if I didn't work at the BYU library and meet the people I did. Thank you everyone for being my friend. It really means a lot to me. And now for some pictures!

The pop-up Stephenie Meyer I found in my drawer one day.

The awesome and manly Cliff Chandler
 (I hope you don't mind that I used of picture of you, Cliff)

The infamous pop-up Edward that was passed around to many people's drawers.
I have to say that one of my best pranks was leaving several
Twilight pictures in Cliff's stuff while I was on my mission.
Some were hidden so randomly, he didn't find them for a long time.

Turkey Wars!

My very first turkey in Turkey Wars.

Some of my tools

A huge stack of stuff I worked on. That was one good thing about
the work, you could see your progress. I loved to make huge stacks,
it made me feel accomplished.

3 comments:

  1. I don't mind that you used it at all! You chose an excellent picture. :)

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  2. Awesome post, Emily! I am going to send the link to a few people you mentioned!

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  3. Mmm, Em I miss you! I LOVED talking to you too and just hanging out (er, working) side by side on those lovely, glue covered desks. good good times.

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