“God has given me cause to laugh, and all who hear of it will laugh with me”
Genesis 21:6
Hello everyone! My name is Elizabeth Gerace, an aspiring librarian and music enthusiast. I am originally from Ocala, FL, and attended the city’s local two-year college, working part time as receptionist for a hydraulic company and going to school for vocal music. After receiving my Associate in Arts, I moved an hour to north and began the next part of my schooling at the University of Florida in Gainesville. I ended up receiving my bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Ethnomusicology, the study of world music and culture, from UF in 2021. Even though my time at the university was marked by COVID, I still made many important friendships and count that time as one of the most important eras of my life. Right before my graduation, I made the decision to cross into enemy territory and apply to FSU for my master’s degree, becoming one of many Gator-Noles (the horror!!)
Currently, I am working in Gainesville as a choir director at St Patrick Interparish School teaching 5th-8th grade students how to sing. I love to be able to share my love of music with the younger generations and am learning a lot about what it takes to be a positive influence in a student’s life. I also teach religious education at our local Catholic church and sing for weekend Masses, and often perform with our praise and worship band. Along with reading books and making music, you can usually find me hanging out with my fiancé, Cameron. Cameron is getting his PHD at UF in Biomedical Engineering, with the goal of becoming a professor. We’re getting married this July and are super excited start our brand-new life together
In terms of this class, I am excited to learn how to better make use of media that I already have access to in my personal and school devices. I plan to work in either school, academic, or professional librarian circles with the information I will learn in this class and degree. My dream is to find a way to work as a children’s literature librarian, perhaps taking advantage of my proximity to the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature at UF. I am so grateful to all the professors I have had already who have taught me invaluable lessons this past semester. I’m excited to learn even more in this class and get to know all of you!
Hi Elizabeth!
I want to extend my congratulations on your upcoming marriage. I know that must be a big step for both you and your fiance, so wish you both the best in the next step of your lives. July is a great month to get married in, especially in certain parts of the country. If you do not mind me asking, are you planning on having your wedding here in Florida, perhaps near a beach, or somewhere out of state and a bit more cool?
It is very nice to meet a fellow English major, too! Though I am most intrigued by what you have listed as your minor. This is the first time I ever heard of ethnomusicology, at least as far as the term goes. It always amazes me how well music can connect people from all over the country and from all different cultures, which makes this study sound like a great connection for future and current librarians. Especially since one of the many goals of librarians is to share in the diverse cultures we live in today.
I hope we both can achieve our goals of becoming youth librarians. Look forward to what this class can teach us in the meantime. It was very nice to meet you and….
Wait… a Gator has infiltrated Seminole territory!? Sound the alarm!
Just kidding!
Have a great semester!
Hi Elizabeth!
It is neat to see people of all different backgrounds here in this class. I look forward to learning from everyone. I am relatively ignorant in music education as I thought there was essentially only one degree. The study of music and the culture that influenced it is so fascinating as music plays a huge part in our everyday lives. I am curious if you studied how music affects our emotions and behavior as well. Also, I hate to break it to you, but there is no such thing as a Gator-Nole. One will come to pick a side and I believe it will be FSU. Just kidding!
It was nice meeting you and looking forward to learning more.