OK, now I’m at college…here is what I’ve learned as we pass the midterm point of the first semester. I suspect that many of my former students facing their first term at college are learning some of the same lessons!

Time Management – there are just not enough hours in the day to complete all the work. I appreciate walking the campus. There is a lot of walking, and as I have mentioned before – often uphill. But, now that the Autumn is here and the weather is cool – it is lovely walking. The Autumn foliage in Virginia doesn’t blaze – it glows. I even appreciate walking in the rain. Have I mentioned how important it is to have comfy shoes, a lightweight raincoat and an umbrella everywhere? The workload can be overwhelming. But, isn’t it nice not to have bells? I appreciate Saturday and Sunday showers (the bathing kind and the weather kind) because I don’t have to rush – and rainy weekends slow me down and I read a lot.

I do worry that I am getting very anal. I need to know at all times – where my phone is, where my University ID card is (so very important because I can buy coffee, lunch, or items at the bookstore – and it gets me into buildings and lets me make copies anywhere), where my train ticket and Metro SmartTrip card are so I can get home.

It is always good to be reminded that learning about time management is one of the life-long lessons. I met yesterday with a young English graduate student to discuss her students and upcoming library instruction sessions. We met at lunch time and she brought her eight-month old daughter and her grandmother. She was not harried – she was upbeat and positive and looking forward to helping her students do a good job on their 8-page paper. She obviously was juggling her time, classes, job and family – and enjoying the journey. That darling baby’s smiles kept me grinning foolishly all afternoon.

I’ve learned that I can do the weekend Washington Post Samurai Soduko (5-sided) on Saturday or Sunday morning – but if I wait until the afternoon or evening, I erase a lot! I’ve learned there really are some tasks that need time and uninterrupted thought to do well. I’ve learned that keeping touch with friends and family afar takes time but is always so worth the effort.

Information Management – There is so much new “stuff” to learn in a new job. Where is the stuff? How do I find it? How do I answer all the emails? How do I communicate the information? How do I teach faculty and students how to find the stuff? Do I cloud compute? Do I carry around a USB with my life on it (actually I have 4 – sad, I know!) How do I know where my files are when working from home, and traveling between 4 different buildings at work? Am I learning anything in the depth it should be learned? It’s my job after all.

Stress Management – Well, I’m not doing so well on this one. I can tell by my many nights of uninterrupted sleep. I awake at three or four in the morning and …think. The caffeine I mainline daily probably contributes to this cycle, don’t you think? I know that I’m not eating well during the week. I don’t like eating dinner so late at night. I crave fruits and vegetables on the weekends.

Music and poetry calm the savage beast in this Librarian. Reading always is a stress reliever – and life saving grace – for me. Saturday afternoon Mass and prayer is a respite and a time for reflection sorely needed in my life.

Management – who knew I would be spending so much time worrying about being a good manager? I am learning that my most important time is spent in listening to the people I work with. I probably need to spend more time listening to the beloved people I live with!

Over and over, I am reminded what I’m learning is … it’s all about the journey. It’s about being able to ask for help. It is about being kind. It’s about being curious. It’s about learning all the time.