We meet different inspiring people in school.
Most school kids look up to their teachers for their brilliance and the understanding and care they show towards them. We all have that one teacher, don’t you think? That one teacher who believed in us, or those that helped us through the tough times.
There are non-teaching personnel who made an impact on our lives, too.
We heard stories of kids who look up to the school security, bus driver, or janitor. After all, being a role model is not about someone’s designation but how a person created an impact in someone else’s life.
I bet many of us also thought about our school librarian.
Who would forget that one person who helped us look for books we needed for our school project? Or the person who knew exactly which fiction book fits our personality? Librarians have this charm for children, and this story will show us how many of them shaped so many lives.
This librarian shared one bizarre – yet touching – story at work.
It seemed like an ordinary day at work for Amy Milstead at the Vanguard High School in North Mesquite, Texas. She was doing business as usual when a little girl dropped a sealed envelope for her and ran away.
It happened too suddenly that it caught her by surprise.
She didn’t even have the chance to open the letter! Left with no choice, she opened the envelope and read the letter, much to her delight.
Amy shared a photo of the letter on her Twitter, and it instantly went viral.
I’m speechless. Delivered in a sealed envelope and she ran before I could read it. pic.twitter.com/ufU1MMHwcT
— Amy Milstead (@amyomilstead) March 31, 2022
The letter came from a girl named Reginae, and she expressed her heartwarming gratitude to their school librarian. She even wrote that she spoke on behalf of others who also appreciated every librarian who saved them.
Reginae’s letter also spoke of the wonders a librarian’s work entails.
She stated that a librarian wears many hats in the library: a scientist, an explorer, and a reader. Her sweet words got even more precious when she wrote a reminder that as librarians, they are important and they are loved.
Amy’s tweet prompted many others to share their stories of how they treasured their librarians.
My high school librarian saved me. I was bullied so badly during high school. She let me eat lunch with her every day and would let me look through catalogs and pick what books she should order for the school library. On my worst days, I ran to the library and she let me stay.
— Mire Marke (@MireMarke) April 1, 2022
Many of them said how their school librarian literally saved their lives from bullies in school. Some said that their librarian defended them from bullies who attacked them inside the library.
Others also remembered the kindness their librarians showed them.
My school librarian was my saviour in high school. He saw I was bullied, & he took me into the library & trained me as his library assistant. He did this with other kids that were bullied & that’s how I made friends I still have to this day.
— MizLNicTeàrlach – “Lovely Bean” (@MizLiot) April 1, 2022
One person shared how their librarian trained them to be his assistant to keep them away from bullies. He did so with many other students, which also meant he saved so many lives in that one kind gesture alone.
Many reminisced how the library and reading became their safe spaces.
The public library and school library saved my childhood from growing up in a very troubled home. I am forever grateful for the books and kindness showed me there. I don’t believe I would have been an old man today on Twitter able to tweet this without librarians.
— Compassionate Friend (@Amigo2Todos) April 1, 2022
The library sheltered them away from bullies waiting in the hallways, and the books gave them an escape from a world that was beating them up. And behind those forms of refuge was a librarian that oversaw that the library remained a sanctuary for young minds like them.
We salute all librarians like Amy, who impacted every child’s life.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Source: Upworthy, Amy Milstead Twitter Profile, Eric Lewis via Flickr
