The profession I choose by chance earned me respect

Sometimes it so happens that we are forced to do something to please others. So by chance we get involved in something, that we don't like. But sometimes "this something" happens to be the destination where you succeed with name and fame.

One such destiny is mine. A job taken just by chance earned me name and fame. Above all it gave me respect that I never ever expected. A respect I still continue to enjoy by Almighty's grace.

Today when I look back I would like to thank one person from the depth of my heart, without whose support I would reach no where. No wonder it's my respectable Dad. He was a central government employee with a meagre income. With this income he has to take care of us and also he being the elderson in his family, the responsibility to marry off his three sisters to suitable boys was in his shoulder. A person who came from a family of eight siblings and has suffered financially knows where life leads you to when you have no money and status.

Belonging to a conservative muslim family, it was hard for the Muslim women to get educated. Once you finish your matric you must be prepared for a marriage and to take up the household responsibility. This is where my father won. He was adamant in giving me.and my sister the best education and kept telling us repeatedly "stand on your own feet". Meaning find a job and do not depend on anyone for monetary help. Though we couldn't get a private job, we had a well paid decent job as per our qualification.

After completing my degree successfully in corporate secretaryship, I took a professional degree in Library and Information science. It was his arrogance and demanding nature which made me choose this profession. So I had to choose the latter degree by force from my father and by chance from me. My father wanted me to hold a professional degree in education, but honestly, I don't like teaching job. But I loved to work with students so with a heavy heart I pursued my career in librarianship. I Preferred clerical job to educational jobs.

Finally I was appointed as a school librarian in one of the best International school. Initially I wasn't happy with the job, I even used to pour out my frustrations at students. In short, a frustrated librarian you may call. Gradually, my responsibilities towards students increased and I started to gradually like my job. Accordingly my students also became my favorites. I was handling library classes from primary to senior secondary.

The most I enjoyed was with the primary students. They were more eager to read books than the higher grades. The books were catered according to the age group of students. I was happy to provide the book of their choice but slowly I came to realize that among the bright students were slow learner's. They would turn gloomy on seeing the books of their age. They were finding excuses to avoid the reading time, otherwise called the Library period. They felt reading was a difficult task. So I started giving them illustrated books which they simply could read along with pictures. And I enjoyed sitting with them, be one among them and explaining to them what they did not understand. Slowly they started to enjoy reading. And later on, they were the first to reach the library when the bell goes.

The job became challenging when I was with slow learner's. I felt that if I can impart and help these slow learner's from my side I am a thorough librarian. I tried to spend more time with them. Eventually it had a drastic change in few students because they started to choose book of their choice. And when leaving the library they used to give me the half read book and say "please do not keep it in the shelf else someone will borrow it". Once gloomy faces started smiling. Another winning challenge for me.

Now I felt that my untiring job had a meaning. Sometimes I felt I was at the top. Once a strict librarian became more friendly towards students. This I understood when children came to me with their personal problems. If they had doubts in other subjects, they would come running to me for clearing their doubts. Due to love for reading, some of them donated books to the library. Every year, I never missed the opportunity to purchase a good collection of books along with our dear Principal.

Every year on 23rd April World Book Day was celebrated. We conducted Book review competition, Book cover competition and Book mark competition for the higher grade students. And for the primary and secondary students they were given a task to dress themselves as their favorite cartoon character which they found interesting in their reading books. That received great applause as children dressed and played their role beyond our imagination and expectations.

The creative talents displayed by the children were rewarded and the winners were given special prizes. The, then, supportive Principal who stood by me for all this is no more. My respects and prayers to her beautiful soul.

In the field where I felt I will never complete even a single year, I succeeded by completing fifteen years. Today when looking back I can say I gave my best to the students. Because even after years some of the students never forget to give a call or drop in with their marriage invitation. But sometimes I regret that I could have been a better librarian.

No job is small or less unless you underestimate it yourself.

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