Yer Vang:
Congratulations Brandi!! We did it!!
It has been a pleasure to know you through the ALA Spectrum Scholar program. I'm glad we were selected to be roommates. Also, I'm fortunate to gain a life long MLIS friend. Thank you for being open and sharing all kinds of wonderful information about yourself. I wish you luck on your MLIS journey. Keep me posted about all your wonderful adventures that are yet to come, and I will do the same.
Again, congrats on attaining your MLIS!
Chris White:
Congratulations Brandi! You finally didn't family and I know if your mom and uncle were here today they would be over joyed with your success in getting your Masters! I thank God that you never gave up and that you had your Grandma, family and friends to see you through it and I am so very proud of you. To God be the Glory baby girl! Congratulations Brandi! I know that all girls rock but in my book... BLACKS GIRLS ROCK! LOVE YOU
Brandi
Veal
The degree of
Master of Library and Information Science
Virtual Convocation
2020
PROFILE
Current residence: Sacramento, CA, US
I wanted to earn a masters degree because:
The simple answer is that a masters degree was needed for my desired profession. However, in a world of privilege and few equalizers, education presents an opportunity to grow one's world perspective and thus, their ability to be an advocate for themselves and others. Higher education provided me with opportunities that I could never have imagined and I pursue a career in education to hopefully do something similar for others like me.
While earning my degree, my greatest supporters were:
My grandmother has and always will be my light in the darkness. The individual who has always believed in me and what I am capable of, even when I sometimes doubt myself. More than that she has been my greatest supporter making what seemed impossible possible. I also thank my boyfriend/partner who dealt with the obnoxious personality combo of procrastinator/perfectionist and so many late night conversations about LIS that he is questioning why he isn't being awarded this degree. I thank my family and best friends (who are family) for being endlessly understanding of the demands of the program (and the demands I put on myself). I also thank my best friends for rolling with the punches and being supportive at each turn, so much for that 10 year plan! I thank my mentor Gailyn for being my <br />
guide throughout this crazy experience and always cheering me on and showing me that it is okay to toot my own horn sometimes. My mom and uncle are no longer here but I thank them for putting me in the best schools, teaching me how to advocate for myself and loving me unconditionally so that I would never give up on my dreams.
While in the program, I met classmates from:
I met classmates from as far as across the country and as close as my hometown.
What I liked best about online learning was:
The ability to do homework in my pajamas and go to "class" in the middle of the night.
What I enjoyed most about my experience at the SJSU School of Information was:
As many are learning, online education comes with many pros and cons and I have thrived in certain situations and been frustrated in others. However, I walk away with some great connections that I once doubted would even be possible in a virtual world. Therefore, what I enjoyed most about my experience is the life long friendships I have made but also the care that I have felt from certain professors throughout this journey.
I plan to use my degree to:
I have interests in both teacher librarianship and public librarianship and am interested in further exploring how these two passions might intersect to increase my ability to make an impact. However, regardless of my specific career path, I hope to be actively involved in community building as it relates to increasing equity and access in education and information.
Now that I have completed the program, I'm most looking forward to:
I am most looking forward to a summer of no homework and free time to read for fun! More pragmatically though, I look forward to making a difference. While the setting is yet to be determined, I enjoy working with teens, and so I look forward to using my unique voice to help marginalized groups within this population find theirs and as a result, gain greater access to institutions they might previously have felt excluded from and all that such a goal encompasses.
Vivian Cordoba : Congratulations
Yer Vang: Congratulations Brandi!! We did it!! It has been a pleasure to know you through the ALA Spectrum Scholar program. I'm glad we were selected to be roommates. Also, I'm fortunate to gain a life long MLIS friend. Thank you for being open and sharing all kinds of wonderful information about yourself. I wish you luck on your MLIS journey. Keep me posted about all your wonderful adventures that are yet to come, and I will do the same. Again, congrats on attaining your MLIS!
Chris White: Congratulations Brandi! You finally didn't family and I know if your mom and uncle were here today they would be over joyed with your success in getting your Masters! I thank God that you never gave up and that you had your Grandma, family and friends to see you through it and I am so very proud of you. To God be the Glory baby girl! Congratulations Brandi! I know that all girls rock but in my book... BLACKS GIRLS ROCK! LOVE YOU