University Libraries
Interest in Intersection
By Shayenne Jackson
My name is Shayenne, and I am a junior, double majoring in international studies and communications while minoring in Chinese. I am currently in my second rotation as the OhioLINK Luminaries intern for this school year. This time around, I am working with the collections strategies and services (CSS) department, which is located on the second floor of the Roesch Library building. In my rotation I was tasked with finding new books for the Libraries based on a topic of interest for me. Knowing me, I wanted this topic to be educational, yet also eye-opening to the vast majority of students. After some time, I decided to base my research on books about the experience of Black women.
As I am a Black woman, I too have an interest in exploring my intersectional identity. It’s a unique one; it’s something that has its own struggles, but also its own beauty. While searching through the site to purchase books, I found myself wanting to read them too. I thought, “If my own eyes could be open as a person who is of this identity, how many others will also have something eye-opening as well?” We live in a world full of difficulties and complications amongst one another. Some single others out and push others away because they are deemed too “different.” But what happens when, instead of conducting those actions, we embrace differences? This world is ever growing and ever changing. If we are stuck on one thing, many more opportunities and chances will pass and we end up left behind. Life is a learning process that molds us in many ways, shapes and forms.
Every time I come to research a topic, whether familiar or unfamiliar, I always come out of it with something new to keep in mind. This rotation has shown me that I was able to explore an infinite amount of possibilities from research alone. I don’t know about you all, but personally, I love it! Research is one of my favorite things to do! It not only teaches, but it broadens your perspective. We are all capable of unlimited possibilities, so why limit that? I initially started my rotation with the idea that I’ll just be researching books and creating this blog post with no huge end goal in mind. But as I read my own blog, I realize not only how much of a chatterbox I can be, but also the key thing this rotation taught me; to learn, to experience and to open your eyes to see the world beyond what we know. That’s the beauty of it all!
— Shayenne Jackson is the University Libraries’ OhioLINK Luminaries intern. She is a junior working on a double major in international studies and communications with a minor in Chinese.
The image showcases book jackets of some of Shayenne’s book selections.