Colleen+Goodwin

After high school I was accepted into SUNY College at Geneseo, proud of that fact now that Geneseo is one of the most prestigous colleges in the SUNY system. At the time, all I knew about the college was one of my best friends was planning on going there, and she was willing to give me a ride to a campus visit. Later, I was accepted into Geneseo, but had no idea of what I wanted to be when I grew up? I wanted to do anything else, but what my parents did for a career (Physical Education teacher & college guidance counselor). I considered being a nurse, my parents talked me out of that career. Occasionally I wonder if I would have made a fine nurse?

At 18, I thought I would be a great accountant because I loved math, but my mediocre grades in my core subject area led me in another direction. I dove for the college swim team all four years and placed in the division 3 SUNYACS on both 3 & 10 meter diving boards. Since I was unable to be accepted into Geneseo's business major due to grades not being high enough I focused on another passion, communication. Back then, I was confident and believed I was a talented writer and communicator. I often dreamed about being a newscaster or a journalist. I graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a Masters of Arts degree in Communication. In 1988 the job market in Buffalo was dismal and I had difficulty finding a job in my field. Looking back I believe I would have been better suited having not declared my major until later and started with the liberal arts curriculum.

Immediately following graduating from college I met my soon to be husband, and got married two years later. I continued working various low paying jobs that didn't require a four year degree. Four years later I left work at the Williamsville School District as an account clerk typist after having my first child. The next year I had another child and two years later I had my third.

When my first son, Scott, went to Kindergarten I used to wait for him to get off the school bus to empty his backpack in order to find whatever book he chose from the library that week. I (we) loved reading together. I was so envious of the school librarian who had the opportunity to influence my son in such a profound way. So, I decided to go back to school to become a school librarian. Funny thing that my brother was already a local school librarian. I got all As in library school at SUNY at Buffalo, and luckily landed my job at Cheektowaga Central immediately following graduation. I thank my lucky stars for that job, especially when I had only been looking to substitute for awhile. I really wasn't sure at the time I could handle a full time job with three little kids at home, little did I know. With the economic crisis at hand, I am sure glad I made the right decision to accept the job offer.

My father said once, "you should have done this ten years ago" (going back to school to become a school librarian). I never understood his comment because I hadn't been ready to go back to school ten years prior. When I was ready to return to school that was exactly the right time for me. I was surprised to have been accepted into graduate school at UB, and if it wasn't for that essay that was included in my application to graduate school maybe I never would have been......... Once again life comes full circle.