John Gonzalez

I wanted, in this post, to highlight a space of my office. Because I work in the Law Library, I’m honestly surprised by my first interactions with students at the university, as they treat me with austerity – they go right for the “Mr. Gonzalez” and all that. Suddenly, though, when they enter my office filled with my figurines and stories, and nerd collection, they’re surprised, and it slowly starts to erode. I like that I have this duality – equal parts serious to fun. Okay, more fun than serious, but I like that I can be a different sort of assistance from a faculty member in the stressful environment of Law School!

Looking for inspiration for this assignment, I decided to showcase how cropping parts of my office can change how someone perceives me at work. I have a collection of our university’s Law Review in my space, showcasing our school’s little bit of history. But, just above them, I have a variety of Amiibos; in fact, ones of Kirby, the cutest little pink puff! They’re silly guys, just sitting on top of materials that Law Students know can mean the difference between working at a firm just out of school. While the work is important, I also want them to be more than just Lawyers – they can also be themselves.

Earlier this week, I was watching a TikTok video of a line of individuals at a Japanese Jiin, attempting to lift a giant spear of steel weighing over 210 pounds. This supposedly was the spear of Benkei, a folk hero of Japan, known for his inhuman strength. In the image above, he is seen reaching for it, to parry another famed warrior, Minamoto no Yoshitsune. I couldn’t help but to get into the rabbit hole of these characters of history – they reminded me of the heroes I read of in comic books or watch in an anime. Now, to find out Benkai passed at the same age as me after slaying 300 soldiers, dying while standing after struck by a volley of arrows…. On one hand, I do not want to go down like that; but on the other, what a way to live – to choose the way you die, to instill fear after your last breath is drawn. These are stories that are retold; music is played in homage to them nearly a millennium later… It’s inspiring.

I promised myself, as a reward for completing this program, I would like to study a martial arts and focus on improving my physical balance, strength, and form. This image and these stories will act as further information, until I too can wield a spear twice my height across a bridge to the drums of history!

Hello to anyone that comes upon this in class! My name is John Gonzalez, and I currently reside in Miami. It’s a beautiful locale with plenty to see and do, and is much more preferable to the winter – so long as you don’t mind a housing crisis. I’m currently working at Florida International University, acting as the Library Manager for the FIU College of Law. This allows me to mix project management with user services, leading a team in ensuring our space is clean, safe for our students, and has all the resources law students need! When I’m not studying or working, I’m usually with family, playing video games, or reading – though lately, I’ve been stepping into the field of Dungeons and Dragons (curse Stranger Things!).

I’m also lucky enough to be in my final semester of the MLIS program here at FSU. I’m particularly excited about this class, as it will allow me to finish my certification requirements in User Services! I consider myself a creative person, but I am really lacking in technical skills; my fine-hand motor skills are probably at the level of a baby’s first meal on their own. So I’m hoping we can utilize tools that will create beautiful work that is original and fun. Looking forward to working with you all!