Breaking the mold: how a history major found her calling in librarianship

Forget everything you thought you knew about librarians. In this captivating Alumni Stories episode, Kim Monteiro shatters stereotypes as she takes us through her journey from anxious history student to confident librarian specialist at the Luxembourg Learning Centre.

Kim's story begins with her decision to study history at the University of Luxembourg, driven by family ties and the university's unique multilingual approach. Though initially planning to become a teacher, a student job at the university library unexpectedly redirected her career path. As she reveals the surprisingly diverse nature of modern librarianship—from training sessions and project management to creative programming and student support—listeners gain insight into a profession that's far more dynamic than commonly perceived.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Kim's journey is her transformation from someone terrified of public speaking to a professional who regularly conducts training sessions. Her candid discussion about practicing presentations in front of mirrors, recording herself, and gradually building confidence offers valuable strategies for anyone battling similar anxieties. "Face your fears," she advises, acknowledging that nervousness isn't weakness but rather a sign that you care about performing well.

Throughout the conversation, Kim highlights how her Bachelor in European Cultures and Master's in History equipped her with critical research skills essential for her current role. She shares thoughtful perspectives on balancing academic commitments with personal life, adapting to online learning during COVID, and navigating the evolving relationship between libraries and artificial intelligence. Her advice about maintaining social connections and seeking support resonates whether you're considering studying at Luxembourg or facing life transitions anywhere.

Whether you're curious about university life at Luxembourg, contemplating a career in information services, or simply appreciate stories of personal growth, Kim's authentic account of finding her professional path offers both inspiration and practical wisdom. Listen now to discover how stepping outside your comfort zone might lead to unexpected opportunities and personal transformation.

Interested in signing up for the Bachelor en Cultures Européennes?

Visit the website : bce.uni.lu

If you have any specific questions regarding this Bachelor, please contact: bce.office@uni.lu

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Transcript

Introduction to Alumni Stories Podcast

Masti 0:02

Hello and welcome to Alumni Stories, a podcast brought to you by the University of Luxembourg. I'm your host, Masti. Let me give you an idea of what Alumni Stories is all about. Whether you've studied here before, or you're curious and consider pursuing your studies at the University of Luxembourg, or just want to listen to interesting people, whatever it might be, you're at the right place. I know it sounds forward, but let me break it down for you. Every episode will star a former student who finished your degrees and has set a foot into the working world, or, as I like to call it, the grown-up life. We'll get a glimpse of each individual their personal ups and downs, their survival strategies, the recipe to balance uni and life, and much more. So if you're, like me, someone who's been looking for the right study program but hasn't been able to find the right fit yet, call this your lucky day, because this podcast is made for you. So, without any further ado, let's dive into today's episode.

Masti 1:10

What do you think of when you picture a librarian? I'd think of an old and strict lady with glasses. But what if I told you that this is not necessarily the reality? Today's guest is the living proof that librarianship can look very different from what the movies have taught us. She graduated from the University of Luxembourg with both bachelor's and master's degree in history. Additionally, she also decided to pursue her career as a librarian specialist here at the university too. Engaging with different languages and diverse perspectives explains her open-mindedness and creativity towards her profession. One major step in her career has been overcoming the fear of being in front of people. Therefore, "face your fears is a saying she likes to tell herself as a reminder of everything she achieved so far. In this episode, she'll explain to us the reasons that made her stay at the university for so long, how to manage your anxiety when in front of people, and what the duties of a librarian can look like. Please welcome, Kim Monteiro.

Kim 2:12

Hi, thanks for having me today.

Masti 2:14

I'm very glad you made it here and, for the people that are listening and cannot see you right now, she is prepared. She came in with paper sheets and I'm very excited to see what you have for us. So Kim, we'll start off very, very easily. Please tell us about yourself. Give us a little introduction in a way that you're comfortable with.

Kim 2:36

Perfect, thank you. So my name is Kim Monteiro and, as you already said, I'm a librarian here at the Luxembourg Learning Centre, so the university library. And, as you said already perfectly, I have a bachelor and a master degree in history. So, as you might all guessed already, I'm passionate about history as well as books, so they are kind of my hobbies as well. I also love photography and I'm also a dancer. So yeah, I have two dogs, Bucky and Baloo, and also a puppy now who is called Bernard, which is really funny, I think, and he's a small tackle.

Masti 3:20

Okay, so she already mentioned that she did the bachelor and master's here at the University of Luxembourg. So first things first that I'm wondering is, why did you choose this university in the first place?

Kim 3:32

Since my main goal was, in fact, to become a history teacher and I didn't originally aim to be a librarian when I started studying, I really thought it will be best to stay here. First of all, I'm a very family person so I think that really put me at staying here. But also because being a historian here in Luxembourg is important also to learn about Luxembourgish history which will not be possible like in France or Germany, because every country has more a focus on their own history, I will say. Even though perhaps sometimes history of different countries are mixed together. But I really wanted also a focus on Luxembourg and I think that the University of Luxembourg is quite perfect for it. They have a mix of Luxembourgish history, but also European history in general, and also because it's a multilingual atmosphere and international atmosphere here at the university, which I really like. So most of my courses I had were in German, English and French. And I even saw now that they have Luxembourgish courses, which I think it's so, so nice, because it's so important to revive the Luxembourgish language spoken and written. And yeah, I think that's one of the main reasons I stayed in Luxembourg. And you have the Erasmus program in case you want to go abroad. So that helps also to say okay, in case I need to go I don't know, I was in Berlin for instance. If you want to move for six months, the Luxembourg University allows you to do so.

Masti 5:14

he you mentioned something, you said you didn't aim to become a librarian specialist. So what was the initial thing you had in mind? Or did you not know, perhaps?

From Teaching to Librarianship

Kim 5:25

Yeah, so I wanted to become a teacher here in Luxembourg because I care a lot about education, I love to help people learning and to share my knowledge with other people. But then, I started to work as a student at the library and that's when I think my interest in becoming a librarian perhaps in the future grow, I will say. Especially because I realized how dynamic and engaging the role of a librarian is and that a lot of teaching elements that I like are a part of a librarian's role, which I didn't knew before. So I think, like everybody had like stereotypes of it's someone who is fascinated about every book, that knows every book, and stuff like that. And that's not true. It's only a stereotype you know, and I think that the job of as a librarian is very diverse. So me and my colleagues, we don't do all the same things, which is really nice because we can share our experience and help each other, but everybody has like their own part of doing in the library.

Masti 6:38

What do you mean by that?

Kim 6:40

So, we have people who work more with books, others with the students, others with open science, so it's a bit of a mix. So we have really different people from different backgrounds and I think that it's really beautiful. You can share so many ideas with each other because you are not the same, you don't have the same background, so it's really nice.

Masti 7:04

And what do you do there?

Kim 7:06

So I have different things, so I give training sessions for once, so I'm in direct contact with students. In another way, I also am a small project manager, I would say. In case there are projects, I'm also responsible for some of them and they are very diverse, so it can be very creative, like we have a small program right now. That's study and chill program where we put creative activities for students during the exams period, so they can take a break in the library while studying.

Masti 7:43

So you're also an event manager, in a way?

Kim 7:46

I don't know, in my contract it's not written that I'm an event manager but yeah, it's a mix of everything that we do. Which I really love because like, you're always trying new things and stuff like that. But yeah, in some way, in a definition, I will say that you can talk about event also.

Masti 8:07

So, you also said that you worked or... Did you do an internship or did you work at the library?

Kim 8:13

It was a student job.

Masti 8:14

Okay, so you have a student job and that kind of opened your eyes towards librarianship, it was kind of interesting and you were studying history at the BCE, in history anyways.

Kim 8:25

So when my interests grow up for the library, I was already in the master program.

Masti 8:30

Oh, okay.

Diverse Roles of a Modern Librarian

Kim 8:31

So until the master, I was always like I want to become a teacher, so it's still a possibility, you never know how it will change in the future for me. But yeah, so I saw how engaging and diverse the job is and especially because I realized that the librarians offer a training session and I was like, oh, perhaps that could be an option if I don't want to start immediately as a teacher. Like to have the combination of still giving training session and work with books which I also really like, and still stay in contact with students but university students and not teenagers, for instance. So yeah, it was only in the master program, so it was quite late to change my path, but I really enjoyed doing history master because the teachers were great, the topics we had were amazing. So I don't regret my path that I did, and it really shows that even though you don't have like a master degree perhaps in librarianship, you still can do it and you can learn so much about it.

Masti 9:40

How did you pick that job at the library? Was there something special about it, or were you like, let's just try something new?

Kim 9:49

When I finished my studies, first I was like a social assistant at a high school here, in Luxembourg. That's something that ADEM offers for people who are finished with their studies. And that's when I started to realize, okay, I want to become a teacher but I will see if it is immediately or if I will try something else first. And then I saw that they're looking for a librarian here and I was like I already know the team and why not try to apply? And especially because I know a lot of languages, so I think I would be a good candidate. I was very confident at that time, so I was like let's try, I don't have anything to lose, if they don't take me I have still my other job. And yeah, they took me and at the beginning it was quite like challenging because I didn't know the programs and stuff like that. But since I'm a very organized and I really want to learn person, um, I think that I really quite fast learned everything about being a librarian and how this works and yeah, now I'm there since two years.

Masti 11:07

Yeah, see time flies!

Kim 11:08

Yeah, it's true.

Masti 11:10

Something that I was wondering is, when exactly did you do your bachelor's and master's? Like in what time period are you talking?

Kim 11:16

So bachelor was in 2017 so three years, I graduated 2020. And master 2022

Masti 11:28

What I really liked about this story, the way you told it, is you were so focused on becoming a teacher. Everything went into that direction and then at some point, you discovered something new that led you to a different place. So sometimes it's a path you did not envision at first that it leads you into a different place. And, one thing that I was thinking about before you came in, I was looking at what is a librarian specialist doing? And I looked it up and it had a lot of points that I wasn't even familiar with. So when I think of a library, I said it in the beginning of my introduction, I think of it like the movies kind of show it to you. It's like you have like a person that is a little of age and she wears glasses and maybe she's strict and she wants everything to be silent, but actually you have like so many tasks in your job. And I would really love if you could maybe tell us a little bit more about that.

Kim 12:25

Of course. So I think that one of the stereotypes are still true. So one part of my job will be to be in the welcome zone of the library, but it's only a small part of it as well. So to welcome people for their registration, especially in September where a lot of new students are coming. So we always have like one of us in the welcome zone to welcome people, to help them also with research in case they want to come. Then we have everything that is behind, like email ticket system, you know, like when a student needs help, they can also write an email to us, and so that's also that part. Also, we have like a "book a librarian system where a student can request a meeting with a librarian so we can help them with research. So that's also another part of the job. And yeah, since I'm here, I can also promote a bit the system of "Book a Librarian, because a lot of students still don't know it. I think it really helps to talk to a librarian because we know our catalog, we know the data banks, we know how to search, even when we are not specialists in the domain that you are coming with. Like I'm not a specialist in physics or mathematics, but I still can help to navigate through our catalog and the data banks, which I think is very helpful for students and they don't don't know it at the beginning of their studies that they need that.

Kim 14:01

As I said also before, I give training sessions again to present what we do, what we have to offer, how to use our services and stuff like that. And, as I said, small projects like the study and chill program or when there are other events, we try to put them in place. Also collaborations with the university... yeah, so it's very, very diverse. So another colleague of me, she's writing the open science and work with PhD students. You know like it's very, very diverse I will say.

BCE Preparation for Library Career

Masti 14:40

How did the BCE prepare you for the librarianship? Because I know that a lot of people go into librarianship, or archiving even, but I'm not familiar with the way you get like, how do they prepare you for that kind of destination?

Kim 14:57

Yeah, so I think the BCE is a really great choice because I had my main focus in history, which was already a big help because I think that historians are good researchers. So to be a librarian afterwards that helps because you know how to do your research, you know how to navigate through documents and stuff like that. But like the BCE, it's really nice because you have also other courses that you can take in other disciplines like German studies, French studies, English studies or even others. And I think that helps also to have like an overview on how other discipline works and functions and what the needs are. And since I stayed at university, I have an overview of that all. Especially because I think that, for instance, in different disciplines you don't have the same way of writing a paper or how to do the research in that paper. It differs sometimes.

Masti 16:03

So you mean, let's say, in the French class you have a different approach than you would have in German class?

Kim 16:10

Perhaps in languages, not immediately. I'm not sure, I'm not a professional.

Masti 16:14

You're a historian.

Kim 16:14

Yeah, I'm a historian but I know that historians I will guess, perhaps it's also a stereotype, we are way more critical about our sources because we have to and that's something I can give an advice to other students. I think that with the BCE, you will have like an overview of a lot of things. You will get like political overview if you take courses that are suggested in the option courses, that are in the political part. Yeah, so you will have an overview of different things if you choose the right options I will say. It depends. I think it's great that you don't have only history classes, because it could be boring at some point. I will not say boring because if you're a historian I think you like it, but I don't think that every historian likes for example every time period, I will say, but you have to go through it. And it's always fun to have like an option course perhaps that is different. For example, there is Histoire des Bulles where you talk about comics and stuff like that. That's very different, you know, like it's not a course that you will say

Masti 17:29

You would expect.

Kim 17:31

Yeah, and I'm not sure even that other universities have like a course like that. But I really enjoy it, especially I love to read comics as well and we have a comic collection at the library. So come!

Masti 17:43

Come and visit the library people!

Kim 17:45

Yeah, yeah, it's really nice.

Masti 17:47

Am I allowed to just go inside, even if I'm not a student here?

Kim 17:50

Yeah, so we are open to the wider public, which is also a big challenge in our job because other universities only allow their own students to come inside. But we are a public building, especially also because of the industrial past of it, so we have also visitors that want to take a look and take pictures of the building. So yeah, we have different people inside and you have to answer their needs because they can use the services as well.

Masti 18:26

So one thing I know for sure is that the BCE kind of trains you on the critical thinking and being able to, I guess, form your opinion in a way. You mentioned that you give training sessions, so in my head that's like a workshop maybe?

Kim 18:42

Yeah, so it's like one hour and a half max and students can voluntarily register for it. And yeah, there are different training sessions. For instance, you have like how to manage your time, how to start your bachelor and master thesis... So we have a bit of everything for everybody, mostly in English of course, but we also have a few in French and German. I'm giving the German ones.

Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety

Masti 19:15

But I was wondering, did the BCE and the things you studied, maybe during bachelor's, maybe even during your master's later on, help you prepare for these kind of presentations?

Kim 19:29

Yeah, a lot. So I remember when I was in the bachelor and I had to do like a presentation or oral exam, I was so anxious and it was so tough for me. I was always like, how should I survive that? I hated to be in front of people and I think that the fact that, especially in the master program, we had so many presentations, it helped so much for my career because I became more confident to stay in front of people. And I think it's so great to have more presentations than written exams because in the real world, you will stay in front of people, you know. And I will not say that I'm not nervous now, you know. Like I'm still a nervous person, but I think that I manage it much better than in the past.

Masti 20:19

Well, I would have never guessed that you used to have problems with that, because I think you talk very freely and you seem very comfortable.

Masti 20:27

And how can one imagine the difference between the bachelor and the master program you had?

Kim 20:35

So I will say that when you are in the master in history, it's way more focused on history. Like in the bachelor, as I said, you had a lot of other courses so it was... I will not say it was not that serious, but yeah it's quite different.

Masti 20:56

It didn't target history maybe as much as in the master you had later on.

Kim 20:59

Yeah, and it was really focused on history and writing papers and doing research by yourself or in groups, it depends.

Masti 21:09

This is in the bachelor, right?

Kim 21:11

No in the master's.

Masti 21:12

Okay, okay.

Kim 21:14

And yeah, the focus was mainly on doing research correctly and we could choose our topics, which was really great. So you had, for example, medieval history, and I choose to talk about women. So that's nice that you can choose the topic that you love and you want to research. And then the master thesis as well, like you could choose your topic and do your research freely. Like the last semester, I didn't have courses at all. So the main focus was really the master thesis, and in the bachelor that wasn't the case because I will say, the bachelor thesis is still important but, you still had other courses. So, during the master, you had time to do research and be a historian and researcher. And in my last master semester, I was really like I'm such a researcher now, you know. I went to Berlin for my research so it was quite cool, it was another feeling.

Masti 22:19

Don't you do an Erasmus during the bachelor?

Kim 22:19

Yeah, it was in the bachelor. In my master, I wrote about the Sinti and Romas during the second World War and I went to Berlin because I wanted to see the memorial that was there for the Sinti and Romas to compare with the Jewish one. So, and it allowed me to go because I was free to go. I didn't have courses here, so I had nothing that held me back to be on campus.

Masti 22:44

I think that's interesting, because you had the thesis in mind already and you're like, "now I will use this Erasmus and do like the best out of it and then you just went to the place that really helped you with the thesis, and understanding what actually might have happened back then.

Kim 22:58

Yeah, because also in Berlin, I had courses about German history, since of course I couldn't choose Luxembourgish history there, and for example, the courses that I had there inspired me for my bachelor thesis and afterwards for my master thesis. So I think that Erasmus is so great and everybody should do it really, and I think it's still mandatory at university.

Masti 23:24

So yeah, personally I would say it's a great opportunity and it might help you to get out of the comfort zone and grow as a person.

Kim 23:35

That's true especially because I think a lot of people don't even know that they want to move abroad. And as soon as you try it, perhaps you will say, "oh, I will do my master degree there. You know, you never know. But and other people will say, "oh, I hate it, I never want to leave Luxembourg again. It depends, everybody has another experience; but if I talk for myself, I think that the Erasmus program is such a great opportunity, even the global exchange.

Masti 24:04

The global exchange you had there

Kim 24:06

No, global exchange

Masti 24:07

It's a different thing?

Kim 24:08

Yeah, it's a different thing. It's when you want to go far away so Canada for instance or I don't know, Japan... and yeah, that would also be great, I think, to do that. But I think it's still different to be in another continent.

Masti 24:24

Definitely.

Kim 24:25

Because I was in Berlin, it's like seven hours, eight hours max, with the car so I could come back. I had very cheap flight. But yeah, if you are in another continent, you cannot come like that.

Masti 24:38

And it's probably very expensive.

Kim 24:40

Yeah, and it's another experience, you know.

Masti 24:42

Definitely. I also know this one covered your thesis so well and also, I think the history you're interested in is more like in this region.

Kim 24:51

Yeah, I think so too.

Masti 24:53

One thing that I probably think a lot of people are curious about is like your everyday life as a student, and what you did and how did you have fun and how did you meet people. So I don't know if we mentioned this before actually, but you told me you used to have problems with being in front of people. So I'm wondering, first of all, how did you overcome them? Did you have them while studying? And was it a problem you had with like friendships in between? Like, did this anxiety of being in front of people come in between you and friendships?

Kim 25:35

No, I don't think. I think I'm still an extrovert. That's not the problem, I think it's all simply the feeling of nerves that comes up when I have to do something. But I will not say that it's a bad thing. I think being nervous is quite even a good thing, because that means that you want to do what you are doing good, you are interesting in what you are doing and you want to achieve something. So being a bit nervous it's fine, and I think as soon as I realized that being nervous is not such a bad thing, it became easier for me. But a lot of people don't realize that at the beginning they're like, "oh, oh god, I'm very anxious, I'm nervous. The others like they talk without a problem, but that's not true. Perhaps they are also nervous, but they don't show it, they are only nervous inside. And perhaps they're even more nervous than you but you don't know it, right. And at that state where I realized that being nervous it's OK and that that doesn't mean that I will not do my work or my studies well, I was like, "ok, it's like that, I'm a bit nervous, but it's fine, you know. And what I did was, as you realize, I'm very organized and I'm always prepared. So I was never a student that started very late with the preparation. So I always had like two, three days to practice at home. And it's really stupid. But I was like in front of the mirror talking to myself, recording myself to see if I talk too fast. But yeah, at that time that really helps a lot.

Masti 27:16

I don't think that's stupid at all. I think that's the best way to tackle the fear, because if you see yourself doing it and you get comfortable with the image, I think nothing will stop you anymore.

Kim 27:27

That's true, especially because sometimes you have like mimics or you move with your hands a lot and then you are like, okay, I have to stop doing that, because you realize yourself it doesn't look good if it looks like you are very nervous, and then you have to take like confident and say, okay, I have to change something about it. You know, and it really helped me. So I think a lot of people do it, even though I say it's stupid. But it's simply because I remember I always started like "hello everyone. And then my mother, when she came back from work, she was like hello everyone, because she hear me always repeating that, the same sentence. And she was like you are even practicing the hello, and I was like, I know, but I'm like that.

Masti 28:16

But this is like, I think, ideal for your job.

Kim 28:19

Yeah, that's true.

Masti 28:20

So I think you probably found the best profession there could be for you.

Masti 28:25

So you realized throughout... maybe even in school, that you had this kind of nervousness to you and you conquered the fear and it was gone by like studying at the university?

Kim 28:39

I think that the peak of feeling very nervous started in the master program, in fact. Because I was very good in French and German and the master program was in English, and I was so bad at that time in English and I was like, oh god, how should I present in front of people in English?". And then I started to read in English, to watch TV in English, and then I realized I'm a fast learner, in fact. I was like I don't have to be ashamed and even if I do mistakes or say something that isn't right, grammatically right, it's fine, they will not judge you for that. I don't think that teachers are like they are there to judge you or to laugh at what you are saying. And yeah, a lot of practice and doing a lot of presentations and overcoming that fear, because you really have to face your fears every time. And yeah, I had my best friend who was a really perfect native English speaker who helped me so much with my English practices. And yeah, I think to collaborate with people, you feel very comfortable so you can talk to them in then, English and then you will have like a then, routine and then you will be able to talk in front of other people as well

Masti 30:02

I think it's good to know that the master's actually in English.

Kim 30:06

It's English and French, so we had courses in French, which was actually fine for me, but at the beginning in English was really like, oh God.

Masti 30:15

But then I was thinking, if I were to do the master, I could not do it in German?

Kim 30:19

I don't know if there is now a German program in history. I think most courses are still in French and English here in Luxembourg at least. But I wrote my master's thesis in English, so I now feel quite

Masti 30:34

Yeah, and you're also right now talking to me in English and, to me at least, it seems like you're actually very comfortable with doing that by now at least.

Student Life and Social Balance

Kim 30:43

Yeah but it wasn't always the case. In my bachelor program I never took an English class.

Masti 30:49

I could not imagine that now that you are here. I wanted to talk about your everyday life as a student. So, I know that you grew up here so you probably already had friends; but coming to the uni, meeting new kinds of people, was it a challenge for you in a way?

Kim 31:09

No because I think my class was so nice we were... I don't remember how many people, but we will get along very fast. So we went out all together. And then, I had obviously my small group with whom I went for lunch for instance, or even on weekends. And we are still in touch from the bachelor program, even though our path separates in the master because we didn't do the same master degree, and we go out drink coffee. So I think it's really great and I'm really glad that I met them in the bachelor program. But yeah, of course, I already had my friends in Luxembourg, but they didn't study here or didn't go study at all. I also met my best friend in my master program, so

Masti 32:01

The English-speaking one?

Kim 32:02

Yeah, the English-speaking one.

Masti 32:04

And, I'm curious because I once had someone here and she said that during her studies, for becoming a teacher she was in a different campus. Was it the same for you?

Kim 32:15

No, I was always here.

Masti 32:17

Yeah, maybe it's in the master of...

Kim 32:22

Enseignement?

Masti 32:23

Maybe it's that.

Kim 32:24

But I must say that my last semester, during the bachelor program, was during covid and also the beginning of my master was during covid, so -

Masti 32:36

It's different. Yeah, no, I didn't even Covid about the covid situation we had, like how did? Online do it online probably?

Kim 32:44

Yeah, it was online. Also, the exams was online and were was so hard. Also during the master program, I didn't my class know all. You know, from the bachelor went doing Luxembourgish master or European Education studies. And yeah, it was at the beginning very difficult but we were a small class and then with time, we could come back to the campus and stuff. But yeah, it was not quite easy socially... Social life was really down at that time.

Masti 33:18

How did you go to work then?

Kim 33:20

Yeah, I had to do COVID tests.

Masti 33:22

Yeah. But you see actually what I also thought is, because of your job you were so... you had not in a way better options, but you already knew so much about the library. This must have been like a dream, like you just knew where to look and where to go and what to find.

Kim 33:38

That's true, and I'm really glad that my path was quite made in that direction that time.

Masti 33:45

So maybe for the people, if you want to study here, then you should work at the library. You'll just know where to find all the things you need, or you can ask your team.

Kim 33:54

Yeah, that's true.

Masti 34:03

But even during COVID, did you feel like overwhelmed with the things you had to do? Since you weren't able to be there and present and, you know, have that face-to-face encounter with the people.

COVID Impact on University Experience

Kim 34:12

So we had afterwards like a small group on WhatsApp and so we knew already each other by distance, you know. So we were quite happy when we see each other live. No, I don't think so, because like we were all external, like extrovert persons, you know. And yeah, we get along so well so I had really luck with my classes that I had in Bachelor and Master, which I'm really glad for.

Masti 34:40

Would you say that your profession as a librarian specialist now has offered you the possibility to really grow as a person? So you probably grew into your job anyways, but do you think that you can fulfill your potential in this job?

Kim 34:58

Yes, I think so, because the job is so diverse and I think the job is evolving, especially with ChatGPT that is coming and everything. So, I think that the role of librarian currently is also changing, and I love changes! It perhaps seems very weird, because some people like to be in their routine and have everything settled, but I love challenges. I love to learn more and I think that, as a librarian, I can do that because the job is really changing every time. So, with everything that is coming now, I think that I will still be learning and outgrowing again.

Masti 35:43

How would you say will the AI affect your job?

Kim 35:48

It depends. So, we can take benefits from it. For instance, AI could help us a lot for the cataloging of books and stuff like that. Also, we are learning a lot right now about ChatGPT and AI in general how it works, because we need to make students aware of it and how to use it. Because you can use ChatGPT or AI in general, but you really have to be careful about it. So, I think right now I'm reading a lot about ChatGPT, how it works and everything, to know how to use it myself, to prepare myself for it. Because a lot of people use it without thinking and they're like, "oh, they told me those resources. I will name those resources in my paper, but that's not true. Like we did already tests where we ask ChatGPT to give us resources about a topic and I will say that out of the 10 resources that they give to us, only one was an academic resource and the others were like nothing really academic, or a few even don't exist. So I was like, where did you find that it doesn't exist, you know?

Masti 37:12

I think for your time it wasn't existing anyways, so you had to look up things and I think we should

Kim 37:19

And we have so many data banks that are free for students and they can find so many articles and ebooks on them, or even in the library. I think ChatGPT is like an helping tool but it's not your main tool for research, and I think that's important that students understand that.

Masti 37:39

In what way did the BCE maybe challenge you as a person, other than the fact that you might have had problems with talking in front of others? Was there like something else that maybe could be like just your belief in something? Maybe it's small in the beginning but now, looking back at things, you're like, this kind of happened there and it shaped me there.

Kim 38:02

So, I had one teacher, I will not say a name, I was very afraid of her during the bachelor program. But at the end, when I look back at it, I'm like she helped me so much in growing because she was very strict, that person, and wanted to take the best of us. And we didn't realize that back at that time, I was always like, oh god, what are we doing here? Like, why is she like that? And thinking back now, I'm like she was the person I'm looking for, like to be now. She's so organized, intellectual, she knows a lot of things. But I think that person was a challenge for me because I was afraid of that person at that time you know, like a small bachelor's first year. But afterwards, now, today, she's the biggest inspiration that I had at that time. I think it's been three years now, sometimes it looks like it's been a hundred years or two weeks, depending on what you're asking.

Masti 39:21

I think it's also hard to recall something, but you could also recall something that is very positive. A challenge does not have to be negative.

Life After University and Career Growth

Kim 39:29

That's true as well. Positive I grow a lot as a person. I think that I don't know people who don't study, I don't judge them for that, everyone has their own path and they grow up, like during their jobs and everything. But I think when you go study, you grow up differently because you have other challenges. You meet other people, a lot of other people. You can still do that in a job as well but I think it's different because, when you studied, you're still free, sometimes like not a child but sometimes like a teenager. You know you are like still in your parents home, you still go out on weekends a lot, especially when you're a student and you don't have Covid, you go out a lot. And to manage all that you know, like managing a studying, your private, if you have a partner to be with your partner, your hobbies... Everything combined you know, it's the biggest challenge at all. So I think it's so great when you are in a university where you can choose your courses and balance a bit your whole private and academic life. You know what I mean?

Masti 40:45

Were you able to do that?

Kim 40:46

Yeah, I was able to do that. I don't know if I said it already but, for example, on Fridays I was always off. I never had one course on Friday so I had like a three-day weekend, which was so great because I could manage to read my assignments but still have my free time with friends or family. So, I had only courses from Monday to Thursday, which was so great especially because I hate to learn after a long day of lectures you know, so I will not go home on Wednesday evening and be like, I want study, you know.

Masti 41:24

I think nobody

Kim 41:26

Especially during the bachelor, I had a Latin course until six in the evening, you know, from three to six so three hours, and it was so exhausting and I was like no. So it is really perfect to have the three days off so you can balance everything. Especially, as I said, I was a dancer as well, so I also had dance classes in the evening.

Masti 41:49

Right, you said you like dancing, you have the dogs, you have a big family, you have friends, you go out...

Kim 41:54

Yeah, especially now when you work like eight hours a day, but I think like it's different. Like when you are still a student, you had your friends with you, like you were studying with them or you had a lot of free time. But you're outgrowing that. You still have your friends, you see them once in a while, but you don't see them every day, and that's fine. I think it's okay, it's part of being an adult, I guess. And I think that a lot of people have difficulties with that like, "oh, I used to see you every day", yeah, but I work now like, I have my life, I have my partner, I have my family... I have other things to care about. You know, like one of my best friends has two babies now and I still see her a lot, but she has her family and that's okay. I have my family you know, and I think that people have to accept that it doesn't mean that you are no longer friends with them. It's just different.

Masti 42:58

You just grow up in a way.

Kim 42:59

Yeah, that's it.

Masti 43:00

Looking back at the university and your time here, and even now that you still work here, I mean you never really left, in a sense.

Kim 43:06

Especially when I was an assistant teacher at the high school, it was also here in Belval.

Masti 43:11

It's next door, yeah.

Kim 43:12

Yeah, so it is also next door. I think I will stay here in Belval.

Masti 43:15

Yeah, you probably will stay here. I'd be confused if you weren't going to stay here. No, this can't be. But you know, sometimes chapters they just change.

Kim 43:27

Yeah, and it might change, you never know. You know, perhaps I will try something new once I want to, you know, or when I feel ready to change something about my life. But for now I think I'm quite okay.

Masti 43:37

You've arrived where you have to be.

Masti 43:39

So, looking back at the things, you could kind of actually happily look at things and be like, "now I'm here, now I've arrived, and all of this led me to this point. Wow this is like out of the movies, you know.

Key Takeaways and Final Advice

Kim 43:54

Yeah, I think that not everything is perfect. As I said, I was very an anxious person, so I struggled a lot with anxiety during my studies and I think that a lot of people struggle with anxiety. I think it's something we don't talk a lot about, or we don't share those thoughts with our friends that we are studying, because we look at them and we think they do it so great. They don't need to be nervous, you know, but they are.

Masti 44:23

We have people that care, that you can talk to at the uni about like anxiety or things that are bothering you. Have you ever thought about that?

Kim 44:31

No.

Masti 44:33

But I think it wasn't as strong as like

Kim 44:35

It might have been as strong for a while, but I have a big family. I think that they supported me so well that I don't need to go see someone else, you know. But I think if you live here alone and you have like your family abroad or something like that, perhaps that could help you. I will never judge someone if they go there because some people need it, but at that time I didn't judge I needed it.

Masti 45:03

I think a lot of people come here and they live in accommodation, maybe alone, maybe with one or two people, and they don't have their families and friends; they didn't grow up here, it takes time for them. Then, I think it's easier to keep it to yourself, but it's so important to maybe talk to somebody about it.

Kim 45:20

Yeah, it's very important. When I went to Berlin, I knew also nobody, you know, like I went with someone for my bachelor program but, yeah, you were still new, don't know knew the city, you know knew the teachers, the courses were different from here. I even had to take a master course because they didn't have like the course I needed to take in the bachelor program in Germany.

Masti 45:47

A little complicated.

Kim 45:48

Yeah, so I was there with people who were much older than me and I was like, oh god. But you outgrow yourself you know, you become an adult person, and that's why I said the Erasmus program was really nice.

Masti 46:05

What is something you learned while studying your Bachelor of European Cultures in History or Master, you can choose, that sticks with you until this very day?

Kim 46:17

Overcome your fear 100%, really. I think that a lot of people don't choose the path they want because they are afraid, because they have like an imposter syndrome that are telling them, "you're not good enough, there are people who can do it better, but you never know. Like, try and then if you decide that it's not for you, it's okay, but overcome that. Try. The first step that you have to do is trying, and I think that's something that helped a lot, because I was so afraid of everything, I was so afraid of standing in front of people and now I'm like, I have to do it, it's my job, so they will not judge me for doing my own job.

Masti 46:58

And what is something you would... an advice you would give students that are applying?

Kim 47:05

I will say that they choose their courses so that they can still balance their personal life, because I think that having a personal life besides the studies are so important, because you need to breathe, you need to have fun. Studying is good, but all the fun activities that you have are also important, especially when you come from another country. Try to connect with people, like going out, even on your own. We have things that are organized by the university and overcome that, like try to be social even if you're not. It's so important to have like at least one friend that is there for you, that helps you and supports you during your studies. I think you can do it also by yourself if you're good with that, but I think to have always one person you can count on is so important.

Masti 48:08

Yeah, definitely.

Kim 48:09

Yeah, and I think that life balance is so important as well.

Masti 48:15

I hope you enjoyed this episode of alumni stories. If you want to get in touch with our guests, are interested in applying or need more details about the bachelor of European culture study program here at the university of Luxembourg, check out the description of today's episode, where I've added all the information you'll need. That's all for now, but we'll be back soon, and I hope you will be too. Maybe even soon on campus.