Howdy y’all!
My name is Jovemyrdha Charles, but please, call me Jo! I am currently based in Miami, Florida, and when I’m not ranting into the ether about the insane rent hikes (seriously, $1850 for a studio with no W/D hookups? hard pass!) I’m counting pills at work and showing customers where to find MiraLAX or the E.L.F. makeup display. Honesty time: I’m actually from North Miami Beach, more specifically, Uleta, but no one knows where that is, so it’s just easier to say that I’m from Miami.
If you hadn’t guessed it, I currently work in a retail pharmacy, and if you think I look familiar, there’s a strong chance that you’ve been to a CVS and had a prescription filled by me. What does healthcare have to do with pursuing an MSI? Well, besides both being disappointments to my mother (she’s still upset that I didn’t go the nursing route or become a doctor), they’re both careers where my direct actions can improve the lives of those I interact with. Libraries have always been safe spaces for me, and I would love to provide that same experience for the kids who don’t have internet access at home or a stable home life that would make them eager to return home after school.
My experience with libraries started when I was just 12 years old and part of the media team in my middle school’s library. While my best friends ran the morning announcements, I was stamping books, pushing around book carts, and helping students find the next Holes (honesty time again: I meant Captain Underpants; for some reason, kids at my school loved that series). It was that experience that landed me my first internship at Florida International University when I was a junior in high school and my first library job at Miami Dade College. All of these experiences have shaped me into the person I am today and, as a result, have allowed me to “dip my toes” into the library world to decide if this is the career path for me. (Spoiler alert: IT SURE IS.).
Try as I might, I cannot beat the weird kid allegations since I not only participated in marching band during my high school years but also majored in anthropology for my undergraduate degree. My hobbies include singing (very off-key) along to musical soundtracks, throwing ingredients together to create something edible, and reading, duh!
Hi Jo,
Thanks so much for sharing more about yourself! My best friend is from Hialeah (in the Miami area) so I’ve gotten to go down to South Florida a few times. The nightlife and beach are not for me but the food, now that is something so magical about Miami. I particularly love pastelitos and cafe con leche from Vicky Bakery and I am super excited that they’re opening up a few in Central Florida so I don’t have to drive 4 hours to get my fix.
I love that you spoke about your interests in musicals. I acted and sang in middle school and thoroughly enjoyed it. Do you have a favorite musical? As cliche as it sounds, my favorite is Wicked because I was a HUGE fan of The Wizard of Oz as a kid.
Hi Jo,
I enjoyed reading your post! I have a few friends from Miami and spent some time there last year, it’s definitely not cheap especially the rent as you mentioned. I too spent much of my time in my school’s library where I fell in love with reading. I didn’t participate in my school’s drama club but loved all the plays and musicals they put on. My mom and I go to NYC annually and see a Broadway each time. My favorite was was Harry Potter & The Cursed Child, but it was 7 hours!! I still enjoyed it as Harry Potter is my favorite series and got me interested in reading other fantasy series.
Hi, Jo!
I loved reading your post! Is it weird to say I’m obsessed with your energy in your writing? …because I totally am. I completely agree on your take on rental prices. The townhome we just moved into is 2 bed/2.5 br and it’s astronomically priced. Plus, I have W/D hookups, but machines weren’t included here like they were at my last apartment. I have to run to my mom’s house in the back of the neighborhood to do my laundry!!
Anyway, based on your response about libraries being safe places for you – definitely check out Mychal Threets, if you haven’t already. He’s a phenomenal librarian on social media who celebrates those same types of “library kids.”
I would love to hear what your favorite musicals are, or what your favorite thing to bake is. I always want to try different things and maybe they’ll end up being favorites for me too!
Thanks for your post! I’m glad you were a part of my feedback group this time around. Best of luck this semester!
Hi Jo!
Excellent job on Media Lab 01 (Blogging). First off, I am also based in Miami, FL (also known as Broward County). But I feel your pain on rent! Don’t even get me started on the traffic. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post and thought you had such a great voice and personality in your writing. Your style of writing created a very personal experience for the reader. Additionally, your writing style allowed you to weave in and out of a variety of subjects seamlessly. It was also very easy to read and follow as a reader. I only wish you put your photo at the beginning of the post because I loved it so much! Light up matching PJs?! Where do I sign up?
Also, last Saturday I went to see Hadestown at the Broward Center. I don’t know how far you are from the Broward Center, but if you have time, I highly recommend it. It was a great show!