Making Connections

Visiting UBC Library retrieving during an archives event

Okay, all vulnerable here: this was a hard post to write regarding my career journey. 

I really enjoyed my time at Government House. I was there for over four years, and it was good, the longest I had ever worked anywhere. Great, even, with the experience I received and the work I imagined I could do there to bring heritage alive. I thought it was more of a forever thing; but honestly, and you know this, no job is. I was sad when it ended, and a little worried for the future.

My pain was confirmed in my journals - I was certain that I would struggle to ever work again. It feels painfully familiar now, which sorta sucks. It was also not true, which is inspiring! The Universe is not miserly, it just has its own pace of doing things and providing lessons.

So what happened after the Government House job ended? I continued networking. I went to conferences for archives and for heritage. I also considered (again) what work aligns with making history, heritage, collections, stories more accessible to everyone. With this energy in me, I looked all around. I saw that there was a one-year position as on-site Program Coordinator in the Cultural Resource Management Program at the University of Victoria. Hmmmm . . . sounds interesting. And so I applied . . . and then got it!

Shoot, what a good hair day I had that day!! At least for the 2010s-ish and me! :)

I spent the year working with museum and heritage planning professionals to organize and deliver their on campus courses, with all their advance material and syllabus support. I organized their field trips and prepared the classroom. I also worked with students to find out what courses would work best with their professional goals and timeline. And, personally, I learned a huge amount of information on heritage planning, and how the work of preserving buildings and neighbourhoods is so important in where we live.

At a Heritage Planning workshop

I also remember really connecting with people. There was one student who honestly did not see herself worthy of being in the group, and although this was her final class, that she didn't deserve to graduate. This broke my heart. It also made me brave, and I counselled her that she WAS important, and that her group needed her, and she WAS worthy. She was so willing to walk away . . . until she understood that she made a difference, that her part of the presentation mattered, and she had a voice, a perspective. And ya, so that she could graduate. She eventually went into the classroom and joined her group and delivered her piece. If this was the only true connection that I made in that year, it was all worth it. 

This was not a full time position, which meant I could continue to work on other projects that I had lined up. I was excited to start the planning for a conference of the BC Museums Association (as a volunteer, which I blogged about here) and I knew I could make the space to do this outside of the responsibilities of the work, which was really important to me. It also helped me align my thoughts about my career, and where I wanted to go next, including the birth of this blog and work as a contractor. 

Change is hard, and making all the connections that these tough challenges bring helps me grow and makes me stronger, ready for the next adventure. Stay tuned!