Here at our remote Team Awesome headquarters we’re taking time to think about the people who make us so great. You’re already familiar with their hard-working, tech-supporting, can-do attitudes. Now we pull the curtain back a little bit further so that you can get to know them better. Today, we’re featuring soon be graduate Matthew Byrd, who is hoping to work at a public library in Chicagoland.

Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it?

I am from the North Side of Chicago and currently live in the city’s Rogers Park neighborhood. I don’t get to do much of it now due to COVID-19, but my absolute favorite part of living in Chicago is being able to take the train or bus or walk into any neighborhood in the city and find something unexpected or that you’d never seen before.

What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?

I love helping solve problems and making the work of iSchool faculty, staff, and students as smooth as possible by doing so.

Favorite catchphrase?

Goofy’s laugh and “Gorsh”

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, what would you eat?

Clam chowder

What is (or would be) your go-to karaoke song?

Here Comes Your Man by The Pixies

If you had to choose, would you rather it rained gummy bears, M&Ms, or potato chips?

M&Ms

What was your silliest/most embarrassing teenage phase? 

Brief country boy phase – flannel shirts, carharts, boots, etc.

Who would win in a fight between a trillion lions and the sun? 

The sun – a trillion lions is not even a speck on the sun

Here at our remote Team Awesome bunker we’re taking time to think about the people who make us great. You’re already familiar with their hard-working, tech-supporting, can-do attitudes. Now we pull the curtain back a little bit further so that you can get to know them better. Today, we’re featuring first-year student Krysta Bruce. We all know that plans can change, but right now she’s hoping to be an archivist after graduating: Corporate? Library? Museum? Who knows?! Wherever it is, she can’t wait to dive in.

Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it?

I’m from a little town in Northeast Pennsylvania. It is called Gouldsboro. It is near Scranton which more people have heard of then my tiny town. I love that it is in the mountains. I love that it is so easy to see wild animals like bears, foxes, and beavers. It makes going out on a drive a little like an adventure.

What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?

I love all the people I got to meet through this job already. I love that the other GAs feel like a family, and it is comfortable to ask for help or simply talk with each other. It made moving to a new place much easier since the atmosphere is so welcoming.

Favorite catchphrase?

Let’s go!

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, what would you eat?

Chicken Tortellini

What is (or would be) your go-to karaoke song?

Dynamite by BTS

If you had to choose, would you rather it rained gummy bears, M&Ms, or potato chips?

Gummy bears

What was your most silliest/most embarrassing teenage phase?

Emo phase thwarted by parents but wore navy blue instead of black to sneak it in anyway

Who would win in a fight between a trillion lions and the sun?

The sun – Lions will turned into cooked meat.

Here at our remote Team Awesome headquarters we’re taking time to think about the people who make us so great. You’re already familiar with their hard-working, tech-supporting, can-do attitudes. Now we pull the curtain back a little bit further so that you can get to know them better. Today, we’re featuring second-year student Kailey Bowen. When she graduates, she plans to work in an academic library.

Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it?

I’m from Goodrich, Michigan, which is about an hour north of Detroit. Since I’ve left, I’ve gotten very homesick during the Fall because I miss all the trees. There are tons of trees in Michigan, so you’ll be driving on the highway or on the back roads and will basically be driving through a forest. It’s beautiful in the Fall, and I miss it.

What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk?

I love how immersed in the iSchool community I’ve become due to working at the Help Desk. I’ve worked with so many students, staff, and faculty, and I’ve loved hearing about what everyone is working on. It’s interesting for me to see how everyone plays their part to make the iSchool what it is.

Favorite catchphrase?

Of course! Sounds good!

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, what would you eat?

Chicken alfredo

What is (or would be) your go-to karaoke song? 

Promises by Def Leppard

If you had to choose, would you rather it rained gummy bears, M&Ms, or potato chips?

Gummy bears

What was your silliest/most embarrassing teenage phase? 

From 7th to 12th grade straightened hair everyday

Who would win in a fight between a trillion lions and the sun? 

The sun obviously. It’s the sun, so they won’t even get close to it.

Here at Team Awesome, we pride ourselves on providing you with top-notch support. But we’re more than just the friendly voice on the phone or the speedily typed response to your tech chat question. Starting next week, you’ll get to know more about each of the graduate assistants who are part of Team Awesome. Check back every Tuesday and Thursday until you’ve met all twelve members of the team. The final post will come to you on Thanksgiving–that’s not an accident. We’re incredibly thankful for everything they do.

Get to Know Team Awesome!

Coming to you from the Team Awesome bunker, a profile of one of our amazing graduate assistants.

In the spotlight today: Sophie

 

1. Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it? I’m from a suburb of Chicago called Plainfield. My favorite part of it is not being there anymore. (Just kidding.) (No I’m not.)
2. What year in the program are you/what do you hope to do when you leave the iSchool? I’m in my second semester of the program. When I’m done, I plan to work in a public library, preferably in outreach/community engagement.
3. What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk? My favorite part of working here is my great team! Everyone is supportive and delightful. You couldn’t find a cooler group of people to fix your printer.
4. Favorite meme:

5. If you could live life as an animal, which animal would you choose? Goat – I love goats
6. What’s your (or would be) your go-to karaoke song? What’s up – 4 non blondes
7. If there had to be an apocalypse which would you choose-alien invasion or zombie outbreak? Alien invasion in the hopes that they are very stupid aliens
8. What was your most embarrassing teenage phase? Always wore pencil through a ponytail
9. Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck? Horse sized duck – only 1 creature to vanquish – horses have no empathy

 

Get to Know Team Awesome!

Coming to you from the Team Awesome bunker, a profile of one of our amazing graduate assistants.

In the spotlight today: Riana

1. Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it? I’m from Marcellus, MI, and my favorite part about it is that it’s less than an hour from Lake Michigan.
2. What year in the program are you/what do you hope to do when you leave the iSchool? This is my second year in the program, and I hope to work in a public library as a teen services or adult services librarian.
3. What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk? I love having such a great team to work with!
4. Favorite Meme:
5. If you could live life as an animal, which animal would you choose? Cat – favorite animal – sleep during the day
6. What’s your (or would be) your go-to karaoke song? Mr. Brightside – The Killers
7. If there had to be an apocalypse which would you choose-alien invasion or zombie outbreak? Alien invasion
8. What was your most embarrassing teenage phase? Bad barrettes and headbands
9. Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck? Horse sized duck – fluffy – take out its legs

Get to Know Team Awesome!

Coming to you from the Team Awesome bunker, where we’re safe from the rain, a profile of one of our amazing graduate assistants.

In the spotlight today: Paul

1. Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it? Holland, Michigan; Lake Michigan frozen in the winter.
2. What year in the program are you/what do you hope to do when you leave the iSchool? 1st year; public librarian focused on technical services or collection development.
3. What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk? When I’m able to puzzle out a solution to a tricky problem.
4. Favorite meme:
   
5. If you could live life as an animal, which animal would you choose? House cat – pretty good place to be
6. What’s your (or would be) your go-to karaoke song? Silent all these years – Tori Amos
7. If there had to be an apocalypse which would you choose-alien invasion or zombie outbreak? Alien invasion – more possibility for an interesting future after
8. What was your most embarrassing teenage phase? Modest hipster tendencies
9. Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck? Duck sized horses – what is frightening about horses is their size

Get to know Team Awesome!

Coming to you from the Team Awesome bunker, a profile of one of our amazing graduate assistants.

In the spotlight today: Matthew

1. Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it? I am from the northwest side of Chicago. I have too many things I love about Chicago to have a favorite, so today I’m just going to pick Wolfy’s Hot Dogs located at Peterson and California.
2. What year in the program are you/what do you hope to do when you leave the iSchool? I am a first year, second semester student and I hope to become a public librarian in the Chicagoland area, focusing on either adult or teen services (though I would have no problem working with the kiddos either)!
3. What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk? The team! It is such a pleasure working with such a courteous, professional, and helpful cohort of Help Desk GAs and staff. It is by far the best work environment I have ever had the pleasure of being part of and it makes it very easy to get up in the morning and go to work.
4. Favorite Meme:

5. If you could live life as an animal, which animal would you choose? Whale – to be able to live in the ocean – chill life – swimming and eating
6. What’s your (or would be) your go-to karaoke song? Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
7. If there had to be an apocalypse which would you choose-alien invasion or zombie outbreak? Alien invasion – rather be killed by impersonal beings rather than someone you might know
8. What was your most embarrassing teenage phase? Country/Hunting – flannel and camo – about 2 weeks
9. Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck? Duck size horses – a large duck seems terrifying – and horses nice

Get to Know Team Awesome!

Coming to you from the Team Awesome bunker, a profile of one of our amazing graduate assistants.

In the spotlight today: Kiri

1. Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it? Chicago! It has some of my favourite people in it. I also love/miss the parks and lake. And food. Ethiopian especially. …And Green Mill, the jazz bar. And everything.
2. What year in the program are you/what do you hope to do when you leave the iSchool? I am in my last semester! I hope I’m able to work in a public library (if there are jobs… oy…) and would prefer to work with kids or teens. But I’ll take anything public facing in the public sector.
3. What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk? I know this is super cheesy, but it’s also accurate: the people. I have the best bosses in the world (not buttering them up, I promise) and I love my coworkers. They are the best group of dorks and I miss their faces.
4. Favorite meme:
   
5. If you could live life as an animal, which animal would you choose? I would be a cat who belonged to me and my partner. They are mad spoiled.
6. What’s your (or would be) your go-to karaoke song? Space Oddity – I’m a group-only karaoke kind of person.
7. If there had to be an apocalypse which would you choose-alien invasion or zombie outbreak? Alien invasion – I’m very frightened of zombies. Yes, even whatever movie you’re currently suggesting.
8. What was your most embarrassing teenage phase? When I was a freshman in high school. 6-month long mushroom haircut. Madly in love with a guy named Rob. He’s actually a librarian now, too! Maybe we were meant to be… *”Titanic” theme swells in the background*
9. Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck? 100 duck sized horses. Ducks are way scarier than horses.

Get to Know Team Awesome!

Coming to you from the Team Awesome bunker, a profile of one of our amazing graduate assistants.

In the spotlight today: Kailey

1. Where are you from and what’s your favorite part about it? I’m from Goodrich, Michigan, which is a small town about 20 minutes outside of Flint (or an hour north of Detroit. What I say depends on if people still look confused when I say Flint). It’s kind of hard to pick a favorite part as I only recently moved out of there, and I am excited to move on to bigger things, but I would say the quietness. My parents live out in the country, and their neighbors are about a 5-10 minute walk away. When you go outside late at night, there is just complete darkness, and complete silence. It’s very peaceful.
2. What year in the program are you/what do you hope to do when you leave the iSchool? I’m a first-year student here. When I first got here, I wanted to go into archives and preservation. Now, I want to go into academic librarianship, which would include reference and instruction. I find almost everything interesting, and it would be a great way to hear about all the topics that people are researching and learning about.
3. What is your favorite part about working at the Help Desk? Definitely the people. Not only do we have a very supportive, fun team, but I love being immersed in the iSchool community, and talking with all of the students, faculty, and staff that you pass by. I definitely feel like everyone knows me, and there have been several situations where I feel like I’m meeting someone for the first time, and they say “you look really familiar, I see you all the time,” and when I say I work at the Help Desk their eyes light up as they remember, and share how helpful we’ve been in the past.
4. Favorite meme:
5. If you could live life as an animal, which animal would you choose? Bird
6. What’s your (or would be) your go-to karaoke song? Take on Me – no karaoke, but will sing along in the car since I proudly know all the words.
7. If there had to be an apocalypse which would you choose-alien invasion or zombie outbreak? Alien invasion – zombies could be someone you know
8. What was your most embarrassing teenage phase? Avril Lavigne in Middle school
9. Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck? Duck-sized horses