Published: February 11, 2025 by Gabe Farmer

Making a career change can be stressful enough, but working on your second master’s degree while balancing a full-time job really ups the pressure! iSchool student Jackie Roussin is meeting the challenge with determination and enthusiasm. Jackie, a former educator, made the leap into librarianship in 2022 and now works as a children’s programming librarian while pursuing her MLIS degree.

From creating meaningful library programs to diving into her studies, Jackie’s story is a testament to the power of following your passions.

I chatted with Jackie to learn more about her career transition, how she manages her busy schedule and her advice for students navigating similar paths.

From the Classroom to the Library

Jackie’s career journey began in public schools, where she worked as a teacher after receiving her master’s degree in education. Things changed for her in 2022. While searching for a new teaching position, she came across an opportunity to be a children’s programming librarian, and it was a perfect fit. Her experiences in that role sparked a passion for librarianship and inspired her to pursue an MLIS degree at the iSchool.

This transition wasn’t just about a change in profession but also about embracing a new way to make a difference. Jackie’s work now focuses on engaging young minds through innovative library programs, combining her teaching experience with her newfound love for library services.

“It is a lot of fun getting to do all of the programs and outreach for children,” Jackie said. “I do programs like storytimes and Carnival Night where we have food and I put out different yard games, face paint, prizes and guessing games, stuff like that.” 

Jackie also does a myriad of other programs for her community, including a STEM club for tweens, movie nights and themed storytimes in partnership with local businesses.

“I actually just did one last week. It was a smoothie, sandwich and soup shop and I did some fruit-themed books like ‘Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas.’”

Jackie said that while she had some doubts and feelings of uncertainty at first, after being in her role for almost two and a half years now, she feels like she belongs.

“I finally feel like, okay, this is right for me. This is where I’m supposed to be. A lot of that was just from progressing in this program and having more knowledge under my belt, but also hearing from the community that I serve and them saying things like, ‘Your library has the best programs of all the libraries around. We travel 45 minutes to an hour away to come to your programs.’”

I think I speak for many folks in the iSchool program when I say this is the kind of enthusiasm we dream of finding! That feeling of belonging and passion for her community is part of what keeps Jackie motivated in her efforts to balance work and school.

Balancing Work, School and Inspiration

Balancing a demanding job with graduate school isn’t easy, but Jackie has found her stride. Her secret? Staying organized and taking classes she is excited about.

Jackie’s personal method of keeping organized comes in the form of assignment charts for each class. “I just organize all my coursework for my classes in a chart that has the assignment on the left, the due date column and then columns for my progress.” 

As far as advice she would give to other students, Jackie emphasizes the importance of leaning into what excites you. “My biggest thing is to make sure you’re taking classes that speak to you and are interesting to you,” she explained. “I’ve always been drawn to youth services, so I began taking those courses as soon as I could.”

She also reminded students to stay realistic about their graduation timeline. “Take your time if it’s too much at once. Give yourself time to breathe. Maybe take fewer classes per semester or even give yourself a short break. There’s no rush.”

Giving Back Through ALASC

Jackie is an active member of the iSchool’s American Library Association Student Chapter (ALASC), where she’s found another avenue to build connections and make an impact.

“Being part of ALASC is one of the best choices and decisions I made while doing the degree here at SJSU,” she said. “It’s just great to have a little home or community inside of the schooling. Especially with asynchronous online learning, it can be very lonely for some people so it’s great to just have people to turn to and talk to.”

Through ALASC, Jackie has had opportunities to participate in professional development events, collaborate with fellow students and learn more about the broader field of librarianship. 

To learn more about ALASC as well as all of the other student groups SJSU has to offer, check out this blog post!

Looking Ahead

Jackie plans to graduate from the iSchool in the fall of this year. What does the future hold for her? Jackie says she is excited to continue to grow in her role as a children’s programming librarian, but she’s also looking forward to putting new skills to use. “There’s so much to explore in this field,” she said. “Right now, I’m focused on children’s services, but I’d love to learn more about collection development or cataloging in the future.”

As someone who is also juggling work with school following a career change, Jackie’s story is a welcome reminder that we’re all in this together. Seeing others be inspired and driven in their own unique experiences makes it that much easier to face our own.

Feeling inspired by Jackie’s journey? Have your own story you’d like to share? Drop a comment below or send me an email about your iSchool experience. I’d love to hear from you!