What can I do with a History degree?

Waaaayyyy back in 2011, I wrote For the Love of History. I am almost surprised how much the post resonates with me still - it actually might be my favourite. I especially like this part:

Ever since I can remember, I have been obsessed with history. Or maybe a better way to say it is story - his story, her story, their story, your story, our story. I have always wanted to know all the details of how we live our lives, from where your family is from to if you love your community down to what you had for breakfast (and if you ate it with your kin, or if you just grabbed a cup of coffee — no sugar — as you ran out the door). I believe I get a true connection with others through these vignettes, and I understand people better, as I get to see life through someone else's eyes.

Oh, and how I still love history. And although when I was growing up, it might seem more obvious that I should have liked English class in order to find and share these stories, it was actually Social Studies / History that drew me in. I wanted to understand how people have experienced life around them, especially people in the past. Needing to know more about this lead me to pursue an undergraduate degree in (primarily) Canadian History.

Pragmatist that I was though, I wanted to figure out how to use this degree. I had not considered a a graduate degree yet because I was really eager to get out and travel as soon as I finished my studies. I also knew pretty early on - and I am not sure why - but I did not want to teach in schools. So I started to look for examples of where this degree could be useful. I thought maybe a historical researcher for a movie? I could see in credits that this could be a thing. Or maybe for a book? How could I get into that? I had gone to the Provincial Archives and used primary resources to write a paper on muskeg and homesteading in northern Alberta . . . I also heard that yes, an undergrad degree like this could be a stepping stone for later, maybe getting a law degree or even furthering it so I could get into the diplomatic corp and REALLY see the world. But alas nothing quite fit . . . until it dawned on me: museums and collections, and the stories they hold. What would it be like to use my degree and work in a place like that? As so, as the second part of the quote above reveals . . . 

My love for museums and collections care grew from this love of history because, for me, it is objects that bring a tangible reminder of what has gone before, and how people have related to events, as the stories associated with those objects brings meaning to their experiences.

I decided I would use my history degree to tell stories - and history - through things. I would use this skill to help learn about and understand the world and our experiences around us and (hopefully) provide some relatable, common ground to meet and share our lives. And so in 1990 (ah, showing my history now, for sure!) I decided would take my history degree and find me a museum to serve. The adventure had begun!

Some real-live textbooks I used all those years ago . . .

. . . and a bonus grad photo. Oh boi!

Memory Lane

As I begin to write the next chapter in my career, I have been thinking and researching how I should update documenting my skills, my resume, and my LinkedIn profile. I have completed a LinkedIn course, and am working with a coach. One idea that I am beginning to understand is there are different ways of expressing my work. For instance, a LinkedIn profile isn't a resume (which should be tailored to each application) and so documenting all experience - even the really early stuff - can count. Every moment is an opportunity to connect in unexpected ways, ways I may never have recognized previously. And so naturally, this got me musing once again . . .  how did I get here in my museum career journey? What is my story? How have I / how may I in the future connect with people? 

I started breaking down my story, going through my memories, thinking about adventures and even bringing out photographs (with all 'dem crazy hair dos / don'ts!). I do see how everything has built on the last experience to make me better, more prepared for the next career step. I am also beginning to understand, in hindsight, where I could have slowed down a little, and how I can still learn from those experiences. I am now taking the time to explore my privilege, uncover what I found out along the way, what took me to the next phase . . . This review is all very therapeutic for me right now, helping me see how everything changes. It may seem self-indulgent, but this realization is giving me an understanding that these transitions are what makes life interesting, and is how I learn and grow.

So, briefly put (ha!), my steps and stops along this road have included . . . 

 1.  What can I do with a History degree?
 2.  Canadian Forces Reserve adventure (in music!) There's No Life Like It
 3. (Tower of) London: Dream / Reality (My Time at the Tower)
 4.  Finding Home: Edmonton volunteer & work experience (Coming Home, Part 1)
 5.  California: Volunteering, Grad school, museum work (A California Dream)
 6.  Return to Canada: Heritage Officer at BC's Government House
 7.  Making Connections: Cultural Program Coordinator at a University
 8.  Museum Consultant: Work & Challenges
 9. Being an Archivist in a Library at a University in a National Historic Site
10. Senior Registrar at a large museum & Daring to Lead: Director of Collections at a large museum 

12. Lessons learned (so far!)

I will come back to this post and link to the above when I have written a 'chapter'.  I may also bunch/group posts - write a couple before I send out a link to my Twitter account @Owl_ (rather than flood my LinkedIn feed with this written therapy). 

A couple of caveats here: I have written about a few of these experiences already in this blogspace, and will be linking back to a couple of posts (and review all hyperlinks -- ouch, many don't work any more!). Also, these may be my memories, but I share them with a lot of people. If you are reading this and you recognize that you were there in that chapter with me, please jump into the comments below and add in what I may have missed. 

A laneway in Wales,
visited with my dad, mum and daughter in 2013

The Ka-Ching File

Ha. I have actually been musing about museum work . . .  go figure my blog title actually makes sense . . .

Yes, I have been reviewing my work experiences, figuring out ways to highlight and categorize and document project accomplishments and goals met and all that. I have been struggling with what to focus on, and if I should categorize my work by specific museum projects, or should I focus on more general management skills. Or is it maybe more about how I connect with a specific position, and with the people there? How do I tell the world I have really enjoyed the experiences and connections I have made, and how I would bring that enthusiasm to future opportunities, with all my heart?

I have not been sure on how to process all of this, so I thought I could start with my most recent work. I have been wrestling on how to write a blog post about my experience as a senior registrar in a large institution, and wondering why it has been difficult to document, as I loved the work so much. I picked up a couple of work notebooks and went through them . . . holy moly, I was *smokin'* BUSY. Non-stop, so many projects, so many deadlines, so many responsibilities. Notes to myself, scheduling, timelines checked off, highlighted, moved forward, resolved and, ya, sometimes abandoned / set aside for another day. Notes of extra hours put in whenever they were required, getting those high priority issues resolved. Through all of this, though, I neglected to properly document what I was doing because the pace was so fast. Sound familiar to anyone else?

So here I am, trying to rebuild and write down what I did and how I got it done, taking stock of all the amazing experiences thus far. And although the past 8 years have been in a museum, I have had some recent reminders that a good amount of my career has been spent as a lone ambassador of history / collections care-giver / heritage person / interpretation specialist in organizations with other purposes. In fact, I even recently interviewed for a director role in a place I had worked previously. Although they ended up hiring the incumbent, it was a great experience to go through, for a number of reasons. One is that I updated my resume to a more general one, focussing on management tasks and guiding people more than collections-based projects. Another is getting an interview is intimidating but exciting, and I need practice using my energy to properly highlight all I can do. But the best part was reviewing what I did there 15 years ago, and finding out all the programs I developed -- the database I designed, the tour guide documents I pulled together and the interpretive panels I wrote -- they are all still being used today.  And I was told how much they appreciated what I created while I was there, and how it added to the site.

How could I have 'forgotten' all that work? Why isn't it top of mind and why was I surprised to hear it made a difference, had longevity? I cannot be that humble, can I?

This got me thinking . . . and I then found further evidence that I need to really polish up how I self-assess my work and highlight it for others. You see, I was in an old email account and found a file called "Ka-ching". Here I had placed emails from people who said they enjoyed my work from ten years plus ago. There were over 40 emails! FORTY EMAILS OF HOW I MADE A DIFFERENCE?!! Some highlights, if I may be so bold:

Oh my goodness, I am overwhelmed! Thank you so much for taking the time to send those pictures to me. I am so grateful and touched at your kindness. I love them so much and I will forward them on to his sisters who are in Ontario. I am sure that they will appreciate your generosity as well.

Thank you so much for including me on all those E mails and most importantly facilitating this whole process. Your knowledge of procedures, contacts and dedication to this project has been absolutely fabulous and has gone a long way to solidifying  great donor relationships and I know will be appreciated by the whole family who as you know were instrumental in establishing and significantly funding here.

Caroline has accomplished a heck of a lot since she started and has earned my heartfelt appreciation for her enthusiasm, her professionalism, and her ability to move plans to completion. 

We thought it would be a great idea to chat to Caroline Posynick* to see if she could give us a “Short History Lesson” with some notes that we could be able to convey to our inquisitive guests, before suggesting that they continue on with an actual tour. Caroline was amazing. Not only did she jump at the opportunity to share, but she also spent some time, ‘sprucing up her Power Point’. And she didn’t bat an eye, when it was suggested that we also include our Tour Guide teammates, so the group became bigger. I organized a laptop, and with the help of AV Services, we were set up in a break out room with a flat screen. Caroline met us on Thursday morning, and gave us a truly fabulous and informative session. She brought some of the books out of the Archives, and had lots of notes to share, along with a couple of presentations. She even had a copy of a Census form from 1911 that was amazing to see, and try and figure out! It is easy to see that she is passionate about her work. (*Posynick was my last name until 2019.)

I am so, so glad that I thought to save these emails, as they are a reminder of just how many projects I have worked on, and these notes show how I got things done, and how I connected with people. For me to find my next work adventure, I need to be able to confidently and unabashedly state what I have accomplished in the past so that they can clearly envision what I could do for them in the future.

I know that days are fast-paced, and it is difficult to find time to take stock. It is vital though, and I am clearly seeing that now. I read just recently about a recommendation on how having an open document on your desktop that is regularly updated with accomplishments goes a long way to making you feel like you're making a difference. It also can provide energy when you need a boost, or when you know it is time to make a change. At least that is what I am finding... the ka-ching moments are most definitely golden. Keep them, re-read them, believe them and remember them!

Where my day-to-day work magic has been documented through the years, and will soon be revisited!