My name is Paul Griffith, and I’m a new student in the MSI program here at FSU this semester. I currently live in Pennsylvania, so I’m studying entirely online. I’m also changing careers right now, so I’m dedicating the entirety of my time to this program. When I’m not thinking about what I’d like to do for work next, I mostly do landscaping and play music (keyboards and synthesizers kind of thing!). Just this morning, I had some snow to shovel before I got into my courses, but that’s alright because it woke me up. I think often about how we use both information and technology in the realm of nature and music. Here I am sitting in front of an entire collection of Encyclopedia Britannica, the kind they used to sell door to door in the 90’s! I love collecting books, so I thought I’d get my master’s degree in it.
Before finishing my BA in English and joining Florida State, I served for eight years as a translator in the Air Force. Sometimes the hair shocks people when I say that. I tell them I’m making my money back after having to cut it every two weeks. I’m open minded to the nature of roles I fulfill in the future, but I’m still passionate about the public sector, safety, and security. There are a lot of paths this degree could take us on, and many of them seem appealing. I’m mostly concerned with traditional librarianship, information assurance, and even special libraries, but digital media production is something very lucrative that we could market as a skill while having fun with it. I’m excited I was able to get this course in my first semester, and I’m already looking forward to LIS 5362!
This course is as interesting to me personally as it is professionally. I’ve worked with audacity before while working with music technology, both on my own and in scholastic programs. Every year I sit down with Gimp (because it’s free) and relearn the basics to create a meme. I don’t have much experience with video editing software, but I’m excited to learn a lot and get creative again. Good luck to everyone else here!
Nice to “meet” you, Paul! You have an interesting background as a translator and musician, which is very exciting. You said that you have experience with audio editing; do you have a favorite software that you like to use professionally? I currently teach Library Media and am able to incorporate a lot of technology, music, literature, etc. into my classes. You will have a lot of options open to you in your new career! Welcome to FSU 🙂
Hi Paul! It is nice to meet you as well. You have hobbies I’d like to add to my collection! I’m curious about what other language you speak, that you acted as a translator in the Air Force, and if you have any of your music online to check out. I also have some experience with audio editing software. I don’t have the skills to make music with it but I will tell you that the video editing program I use began as audio editing software, so you likely already know how to work with it. Reading over your interests, I wondered if you’ve also considered anything in special collections that involve rare books and digitization.
Is that picture really of you? That is absolutely wild. Thank you for your service. What language were you translating for? I saw that you listed using Gimp for creating memes. That is my number one go to for photo editing. Comparing the program to photoshot, it really does a pretty good job of getting the work done. I wish I would have posted a picture of myself when I had a fro.
Hi Paul
I enjoyed reading your post, and I’m wishing for you the best in the MSIT program it’s very interested degree that you can learn so many from it and get different experience.
I switch my major from medical field to MSIT, I felt that medical field will be a very long years and, in my opinion, I like enjoying life and learn new experience and new skills instead just keep my head on books. I read that you like music which it amazing I do like music also.