Voices from the Teen Advisory Board

Throughout the year, we like to share essays by members of our Teen Advisory Board (TAB). TAB members help with programming, suggest books for purchase, and create the quarterly TAB Zine. This month Sharon Vasudevan writes about the library’s role in her life.

Being a senior in high school, it's come to a point where I need to sit back, relax, and reflect on my life. As I embark on a new chapter of life in college, I want to take a moment to remember specific aspects of my childhood that shaped me into who I am today. What first comes to mind, you may ask? The answer is obvious: The Mercer County Library System.

Since I was seven years old, my dad would bring me and my two brothers to the library at least twice a month. As soon as I entered this book haven, I immediately ran to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, my hands caressing the delicate pages of Dog Days and feeling the elation of getting to read this book…again! On our way to the checkout, I’d pass tables full of crayons and paper, neatly stacked and appealing to my little heart. I had to jump out of line and put all my time into making the perfect paper snowflake. A handful of glitter, blue markers, and paper scraps later, I was finally ready enough to head out. But don’t worry, I made sure to wave to the librarian who just checked out my books every time.

That seemed an eternity ago. Fast forward to my middle school years… The COVID-19 pandemic shattered my dreams of escaping to the library. While I might have moved on from my obsession with Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, I still felt empty without my second home. Itching to read certain series that I couldn’t finish, I was sure I was going to go insane.

The pandemic mercifully ended by the time I was a freshman in high school. I was excited to head back to the library. Little did I know that the library would be more than just a place to read my favorite books over and over again. (It’s a precious hobby of mine, what can I say?). The first time I stepped through the doors, I headed straight to the “New Arrivals” section for YA novels, and immediately became hooked on the many genres displayed in front of me. Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction - these are just some of the genres that made my high school experience stress-free. Expanding my love through different fields also equipped me with the appreciation of acknowledging different people’s perspectives, a skill I will take with me to college.

As soon as junior year hit, I realized that I could not spend as much time reading books as I liked due to the intense workload. (I took 5 AP classes that year, to give you a picture). That being said, I never forgot the library’s purpose. In fact, I continued visiting the library, whether it was for study sessions with my friends; PSAT and SAT tutoring; or annoying history projects. The library became my second home again during these moments. I will cherish this place forever because it taught me more than just books. It taught me how to collaborate with others and how to express myself in a safe space.

My senior year of high school is passing quickly. Then my college years will be here faster than I know. All in all, the library has played an integral role in my life, and I greatly appreciate all it has done for me, my family, and what it does and will do for its community.