A timeline of myself starts with understanding the plight of an island girl, from Trinidad and Tobago, as she acclimated to the American culture. From a flight to Miami, leaving behind my original homeland to venture into a new culture. I found myself and understood this challenge, as well as how change is directly important for my parents and the future me. The dynamic American system of education felt different, but I pressed on. Matriculating through middle and high school, as a private person understanding the daunting task of processing who I was, who I will be, and now who I am.
From Interior Design to History Refined
Fast forward, after a degree in Interior Design, a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, and many years working both sides of the experience a patron might encounter (visitor and employee), I finally feel connected to my calling as a librarian. With the help of my amazing husband, of now 19 years, and my supportive sons (11 and 14), as well as my husband’s family, this pursuit of a Master’s degree has been not only an experience that has uplifted my values but also an opportunity that has improved my fit with the county library system, in Coconut Creek, Florida, or the Butterfly Capital of the World. My parents taught me to strive for the best, my immediate family encouraged me to branch out, and my library family has brought my creative side out through the offerings, programs, displays, and activities that are composed by yours truly.
As a special interest, especially one that I dive deeper into, thematic displays have fostered my creative application skills and have sparked the interest of many of our library’s patrons. Some are simply related to holidays, some are related to a national focus of a concept like Autism Awareness, but all displays are designed to bring to life the impact that literature and content can have for young readers, which are my area of focus at the library I work at. These are important features of my work life, but not the only part of who I am.
Natural Born Investigator
In fact, my home life, my interests in crime and forensics has guided some of the reading for pleasure, as well as some of the content I have looked over for the requirements of FSU’s Master’s in Library Science Program. However, this is not the only part of me that makes me unique, as I am the mother of two boys, who are just as amazing. Both are active learners, both are vigorously thorough, and both are the apples of my eye, alongside my husband. Now that you have gotten to know a little about me, it is important to know that lifelong learning will continue to guide my decisions.
Kelly John-Strate, a person who has continued to discover more about herself because of those finite moments of directionality and dedication. Thus, an avid and altruistic persona, but represented by my spirit cat, Luna who is an all-black British Short hair with both sass and grace. You will find me where information, inquisitiveness, and ingenuity are central to an experience worthwhile. Though I am not a digital media person, this course will afford me the opportunity to dive deep into my own ability to engage with social media, support digital resource use for patrons, and hopefully feel more confident as I continue to evolve as a librarian.