I had the pleasure recently of attending my daughter-in-law’s master’s degree graduation ceremony and coincidentally realized that NJ Spotlight News had run a feature on literacy (The Change Project: Literacy Issues).  As I reflect on literacy and graduation, I’m reminded of how much difference an individual can make to success in education as well as career and life more generally.

I was a misfit kid with a very challenging home environment — like many of the students our schools currently serve. I lived within walking distance, just two blocks from my elementary school, so each day walked back and forth. I always dreaded the walk home and remember literally dragging my feet.

On the other hand, my gait on the way to school was energetic and enthusiastic. I liked the way I felt when I was in school, and the teachers were so very kind to me, something I desperately needed. I was a reasonably good student and had started reading young, so enjoyed books and visiting the school library.

It was at the school library that I found not only a respite and books, but hope. Through the school librarian I was introduced to books that spoke to me, that reflected my experiences and I didn’t feel as alone. I found companions in my books, traveled to different places and learned how to dream. And through it all, the librarian was there to make sure I was safe, that I had someone to talk to and that I felt cared about.

I remain grateful to that school librarian to this day and I’m sure he had no small impact on my decision to pursue librarianship as a career. After a long career as a public librarian in Minnesota, I landed at the New Jersey State Library in 2021. Here I have the pleasure of serving as the state librarian, and I can support the state’s school librarians so that they, too, can create safe environments in their schools. And I remain hopeful that as the strengths and benefits of school librarians become more visible, more school librarians will be hired by schools serving misfit kids like me. These kids deserve to have someone who not only supports their educational success and personal growth, but provides loving support.