I once worked at the nearby library during my winter break as an after-school program coordinator. This library offered a free after-school program that could help parents whom had no childcare while they were working. After school, the school bus usually just dropped the kids off at the library, and they would spend their time there until their parents came to pick them up. This program not only helped the kids to get their homework done, but would also entertain them with all kind of educational activities.

I worked with one of the librarians there, and she (Angelica) is such a unique individual. I always thought that librarians are nerdy and kind of uninteresting, then I found myself absolutely wrong and bias. Angelica went to study in England and earned her library science degree all by herself without any financial help from her family, to top it off, she had travelled many countries before she returned to her home country. You may ask how could she afford a life in a foreign land without any help, because she got a full scholarship and worked a part-time job.

This is a considerably small library, but it is very welcoming and enjoyable there, thanks to Angelica’s creativity. We had 13 kids signed up for the after-school program, and ages were ranging from 6-13. When it was not busy in the front desk, Angelica usually worked together with me. The kids were pure angels in front of Angelica and they adored her. She created many games and activities for the kids, and she even organized a few field trips to the school’s gallery and museums during a couple of the weekends. This library always had things going on, like book selling, fund raising, performances and holiday events. Angelica pretty much organized all these events single handedly, and the patrons and guests all loved her.

One day we had a great conversation when we were off work. She shared her personal life stories, pictures, and what she was working on with me. I was shocked! She is not only intelligent, creative, and a people person, but also very real. She had done a lot of things that I could only dream of. She shaved her hair off, just because she wanted to try; she participated in many social events, just because she wanted to be heard; she dressed herself up however she liked, just because she didn’t give a damn about other people’s judgements; and she dared to go anywhere by herself, just because she had no fear. I am afraid I would not be able to do any of that, even though I want to. I play by the rules that the society has created, I influenced too easily by people, and I don’t like judgmental stares. In a nutshell, she stays true to herself and I am not.