It's a strange feeling, sitting here writing my very last column. I wonder where to start, where to end...how I'm possibly going to fit everything I want to say into 500 words.
I've learned so much in my five years working at the little Bella Vista Library. I was a shy little girl on that first day so long ago. Through all of my experiences there, I gained so many things -- one of the most important being people skills, which I will take with me and use for the rest of my life.
I remember Mrs. Farner helping to ease me into the life of volunteering. She took me under her wing and gave me the chance that I needed to become who I am today. I probably don't tell you this enough, Mrs. Farner, but I am so thankful for you and everything you've done for me.
After Mrs Farner, Ms. Joni came. From the beginning, Ms. Joni was special. You meet very few people in the world that you just click with right away, but Ms. Joni was one of those rare few that everyone loved from the beginning. She made the library such a special place, and I learned so many things from her. Ms. Joni, you are such a blessing to me even though you aren't at the library any more. Thank you so much for everything.
Ms. Roxy is here now, and the library is in very capable hands. It makes me sad that in a few short weeks, I'll be leaving for college and I won't have the opportunity to get to know her and work with her like I have with others before. But in the short time I've known her, I've watched from a distance as Ms. Roxy puts her little touch on things and does her part to keep growing the library into the amazing place that it is becoming. If you haven't met our new director yet, stop in and say hello. I know she'd love another welcome to our little corner of the world.
And to everyone else who has played a role in my life at the library -- Ms. Donna, Ms. Loretta, Ms. Glenda, Ms. Debbie, Ms. Argie and Ms. Myrna -- I love you all so much. Don't worry, I won't be too far away. I'll come back to visit often (you thought you were finally getting rid of me, didn't you!). All of you helped to shape me into the person that I am today.
Thinking back, I see that I have a rare perspective on the library. Few people can say that "I grew up in a library." But that's easy for me. I've grown and changed in these last years at the library, and I've been able to watch the library change as well. The library is expanding, and I'm going to college. New chapters are opening for both of us. This is turning into an amazing journey, and I can't wait to see where we both end up.
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Sharon is a teen volunteer and member of the Teen Advisory Board at the Bella Vista Library. She loves to volunteer because working at the library is almost like a job ... but not quite. The opinions expressed in this column don't necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.
Community on 07/09/2014