​

1.  Why did you decide to become a Media Center Specialist? Well, my entire life I’ve always loved working with technology as well as alphabetizing, organizing, and reading.  When my professor at UGA recommended me for a Media Specialist Class, I knew that I found the best of both worlds.  Being able to work with technology as well as read, organize, and do everything else I loved was just the answer I needed.  After graduating from UGA, I went on to be a third grade teacher, and even though I loved it, I was still craving a little bit more.  When a job opening as a Media Center Specialist became available at Ivy Creek Elementary in July of 2006, I immediately got the job and have been doing what I love ever since.    

As a senior in High School it seems like there is a lot of pressure on figuring out what your career will be and that if you don’t decide now “the world is over.”  Hearing Miss Sharp talk about figuring out what her dream job would be in college, gave me hope that I don’t need to have my entire life figured out as a High School graduate.  Also hearing about how she didn’t just jump into her dream job, but that she taught for a few years, made me realize that you don’t have to start your dream job just as you get your college degree, a few years can go by before you end up where you want.  

​

2.  What is your favorite part of your job and why? My favorite part of my job is coming to school and working with the children.  Helping kids find books they’ll enjoy reading always puts a smile on my face.  I love the enthusiasm children display towards reading and I wish that as they grew into teenagers and young adults that enthusiasm to always read and learn would stay.  

The children have a major impact on Miss Sharp’s job.  Working at Ivy Creek Elementary, I can see that they impact everyone.  Children are so positive and get excited over the smallest things.  When I get the opportunity to help a child find a book they will enjoy, I too feel as if my accomplishment was very rewarding.  

​

3.  Why did you decide to be a Media Center Specialist for Elementary School students as opposed to Middle or High School students? 16 years ago I student taught at Dacula High School and I could not take the disrespect and entitlement High School students display.  While some were nice, most were rude and honestly it kind of scared me.  When I moved to Sycamore Elementary a year later, I absolutely fell in love with the children.  The constant hugs and compliments were just a start, the sweetness, innocence, and honesty were enough to change my mind and never allow me to turn back to High School or even Middle School aged students.  

I completely agree with Miss Sharp.  The difference between Elementary School students and High School students is like Night and Day.  Although there are some respectful High School students, most of them are extremely rude to adult figures, such as teachers, custodians, cafeteria staff, and the media center specialist at Flowery Branch High School.  Going to an Elementary School, I can testify that the kids do constantly hug you and compliment you.  I have grown to love the mind of a child and I envy Elementary School teachers and the fact they get to spend their days surrounded by loving creatures.  

​

4.  What are all the demands that come to being a Media Center Specialist? As a Media Center Specialist, there are a variety of demands that come with the job.  Every morning I run the morning announcements and create slide shows that are displayed all day long on TV screens.  I run events such as the Spring Fling, the Book Fair, and Christmas Events.  I teach specials classes where students come in and we work on career projects as well as technology related activities.  I do inventory for all the books and technological equipment in the school.  I read to children, shelf books, and am constantly cataloging.  As much as this sounds, I love every minute of it.  The variety and unexpectedness that come each day is something I look forward to and is pretty much the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning.  

I had no idea that a Media Center Specialist had so many jobs to do.  Not only does a Media Center Specialist need to be good at using Media Equipment and organized, but they also need to know how to balance their time and skills.  Miss Sharp is very brave to take it upon herself to get all of the events she listed complete for the school.  Although her job is very stressful, she does a great job at making everything look easy and no matter what day it is, she is always very positive and uplifting.

 

5.  How have you changed the Media Center to make it more enjoyable for students? A few years ago, we got the Media Center painted to display fun and colorful pictures and quotes everywhere.  It brightens up the room and gives a positive feeling.  My favorite quote in the media center is “I Think I Can… I Think I Can… I Think I Can…”  This quote from the book The Little Engine That Could is motivation for not just the students but myself as well that when things get tough to just keep moving upward because I know I can do it, I just need to “Think I Can.”  

When I was in Fifth Grade, the Media Center had begun its transition from a plain white room, to a colorful Media Center where stories and paintings came to life.  When I left and went to Middle School, I never saw the final product; however, coming back this year walking into the Media Center felt more like walking into a Fictional Book.  There are positive quotes and pictures everywhere you look.  I can relate to Miss Sharp’s favorite quote, “I Think I Can… I Think I Can… I Think I Can…” because there are days when working in the Media Center can be stressful and all I want to do is go home; however, glancing at quotes such as this, I regain my motivation and continue to push through the day.  

​

6.  What are some things you do to make a difference in a child’s life? Everyday I greet my students with a smile and a hug, I want my students to know that I love and care about them.  I do everything I can to help them when it comes to working on the computer to finding a book they will enjoy.  It is very easy for students to lose patience when they visit the media center; however, I do what I can to help them maintain it.  I know a lot of my students have hard family lives and coming to school is their “escape.”  I do everything I can to take care of them because I care about them and think of all of them as the children I never had.  

There is nothing that melts my heart more than when a child runs up to me and gives me a giant hug.  I absolutely love the children too and am starting to care for them just as any parent cares for their own child.  There are a lot of students at that school who do have hard home lives and between me, Miss Sharp, and the rest of the Media Center Staff, we try to make every possible moment with the children enjoyable because they are such loving people.  

​

7.  What is the hardest part of your job and why? The hardest part of my job is balancing all my demands and choosing to prioritize my time.  I will always put the children first but sometimes where there are deadlines and Gwinnett County Office Workers coming by, it is hard to put the children first.  There are times I have had to make sacrifices but no matter what I am here to help the children and they will always go first.  

Miss Sharp’s priorities are in check; however, it is hard to put the children first when there are so many other demands that come with the job.  I can relate to this regarding my school work. In life my first priority will always be my family; however, with all the demands of school, I lose precious time with my family.  Miss Sharp is able to balance all of her demands and somehow she still puts the children first.  She is not only a great mentor for my future job but she is also a great mentor on how to live your life.  

​

8.  Who or what inspired you to pursue a career as a Media Center Specialist? When I was in High School my English Teacher had been a Media Center Specialist.  She was my favorite teacher and one that I am still in contact with.  She made a big impact on my life and showed me the beauty that comes from reading.  She would take time out of her busy schedule to help me with my essays and analyzing certain pieces of literature.  She displayed such patience with me and taught me the most important lesson of my life: To cherish stories and live life as if you are writing your own.  

It is crazy to think about the people that come into your life, and inspire you to pursue a certain career.  High School teachers are very influential and can make that difference in their students’ lives.  I can relate because I am currently taking AP Physics and my teacher this year has been the best teacher I have ever had and is making a difference in my life.  He displays the same patience Miss Sharp’s English Teacher displayed and he has taught me that it doesn’t matter how smart you are, what matters is how hard you work.  

​

9.  How long have you been a Media Center Specialist? I have been a Media Center Specialist for 10 years.

Miss Sharp has been a Media Center Specialist for a decade now.  She is very experienced and knows how to do her job well.

 

10.  What have you learned about yourself throughout these past years of being a Media Center Specialist? I have learned that there is always something to be done.  Even when all the books are catalogued and inventory is complete there will always be books to shelve and children to read to.  Before I got the job, I always pictured everything coming to an end.  As a Media Center Specialist, nothing ever comes to an end.  Things will slow down but there is never a moment when I can sit in my office and say, “I have nothing to do.”  I have become a more efficient person because of it and every day when I go home, I feel fulfilled in that I did not waste a day of my life.  

I understand where Miss Sharp is coming from because I would rather wake up early and accomplish something then sleep in late and get nothing done.  Also ever since I’ve started working at Ivy Creek I understand the concept of “nothing ever ends.” Every day when I leave, there is always a couple more books to be shelved and more inventory to be done. Every time I leave Flowery Branch High School, I look forward to knowing that I will have something to do at Ivy Creek Elementary School and that my work will be satisfying.  

​

11.  What is your favorite children’s book and why? My favorite children’s book is without a doubt The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy.  I love this book because I can relate to the Librarian Miss Lotta Scales in that I take my job very seriously and want to protect the environment as well as the books at all times; however, I don’t think I would go as far as burning the students if they mess up the books.  The Library Dragon is my favorite book to read to students during storytime and whenever classes come in and visit.  

I actually remember back to Elementary School when Miss Sharp would read The Library Dragon to my class.  She would joke with us and tell us if we weren’t good and didn’t do as told, she would actually turn into the library dragon.  I read the book right after I interviewed her and I can see how she relates to the main character Miss Lotta Scales.  Miss Lotta Scales was a perfectionist and didn’t want one book out of line; however, at the end of the book she realized that when you work with kids, things will be rearranged by the children.  Miss Sharp is also a perfectionist and is constantly doing what she can to make the Media Center look “perfect.” However my mentor understands that when you're dealing with children, things will sometimes fall out of place.  

​

12.  How have you made a difference in the Gwinnett County School System?  I like to think that throughout all these years of working in the Gwinnett County School System, I’ve made the library more fun and enjoyable for the students.  I remember when I was in Primary School how much I dreaded going to the library with my class and I do not want one student at Ivy Creek to feel that way.  From painting the Media Center to constantly finding new and creative ways to display stories and decorations, it is my hope that after everything I’ve done to make library visits more exciting, students look forward to their class trips to the Media Center.  Every year all the Media Center Specialists in Gwinnett County come together for a workshop.  This year was my first year teaching one of the lessons.  I had pictures of the book room, the Fiction Section, and the system we use for students to check out books.  I had so many Media Center Specialists from other schools come up to me afterwards and tell me that they were going to use my idea on the book room or on the Fiction Section.  I like to think that my hard work at this school is spreading to other schools and being taken into account across the county.  

Miss Sharp is leaving her mark on the Gwinnett County School system by making library visits more exciting for students as well as teaching other Media Center Specialists her ways hoping that they will take what they learned and apply it to their schools.  I hope to leave my mark by helping her out in any way that I can.  I can tell that her stress level has decreased significantly since I’ve started working with her.  Things get done faster and more efficiently now that she has a “personal” intern working for her.  It is my hope that by the end of this school year, I will have done everything in my power to make the Media Center more fun and efficient and I hope that I am able to take some stress off my mentor.