Welcome to our fourth ALASC profile. This is a series of introductions of ALASC board members, SLIS students, and other information professionals who you may want to hear from. If you’re interested in being profiled, please message us! This was originally published on our Facebook page in November.
For our 4th profile, please meet Natalie Parker, a current SLIS student who recently contributed to the Descriptor (check it out here! https://slisgroups.sjsu.edu/alasc/wp-descriptor/)
- Introduce yourself! Where are you in the world? What do you do? What do you like to do? etc.
I’m in my fifth semester at SLIS and I moonlight as a full time Senior Paralegal at Google. As it turns out, I do a lot of information organization at my day job! In my non-work, non-SLIS time, I’m an avid traveler, cook, blogger (http://almostneverclever.wordpress.com/), paper crafter and I love watching college football. I also love going out and supporting the local businesses in Oakland where I live.
- Why are you at SLIS?
I spent a lot of time knowing I wanted a career change but not knowing where to apply myself. Things clicked one day when I discussed LIS with a friend who was at SLIS. I’m focusing on archives and am glad I can still work full time while at school (though that has its drawbacks).
- What’s the best part of being a member of ALASC?
Connecting with other people! It is tough sometimes as a SLIS student being detached from a support system one would normally find in a graduate program. I love to connect with fellow students as well as meet people in the field through site tours.
Optional questions: (please choose one or 2)
- What are some fears and hopes you have about the field?
My biggest fear is breaking into the field since I came to SLIS with no direct Library experience. Sometimes I feel like other students are way ahead of me with the knowledge they bring to class and the connections they already have. I hope that I will be able to make a smooth career change and get to a place where I really enjoy what I do.
- What advice do you have for new students? / What’s the best advice you’ve gotten recently?
Try to connect with your peers as much as you can. It can be hard with everything else going on during the semester, but it really helps to have classmates you can check in with.
