Posted: 4/8/2020
In the
spring of 2017, I was accepted as a student at the University of West Florida.
Shortly after choosing my major and meeting with my adviser, I received an
email about a part-time job opening at a museum in Milton. I have lived in
Milton my entire life and had only been to this museum once, two years prior to
becoming an Argo at UWF; I had actually forgotten that it existed! I decided to
apply for the job, because the description mentioned that my work schedule
would be planned around my class schedule and it seemed like a pretty
interesting job, especially for a history major. Not long after I applied, the
Museum Educator called me and we set up an interview.
I have
always been extremely shy and reserved. I hated speaking to people I did not
know, the thought of talking to a large group of people made me sick, and I
really didn’t know how I would survive at a university where I would probably
be required to give presentations. That being said, when tours and greeting
guests was mentioned in the interview with the Museum Educator, my heart
dropped to my stomach. I’m not sure what I expected or why that surprised me,
but my brain went into panic mode at the thought of having to give a tour. Me?
Talk to strangers? You’re kidding. But something pushed me to say yes when the
job was offered. With my heart pounding so loud I thought for sure the Museum
Educator could hear, I shook her hand and accepted.
About a
week or so later, I began my first shift at Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site. I
learned the opening and closing procedures, how to work a cash register, and
the history of the site. My coworkers made each shift fun and they always gave
me new and interesting tidbits of information. I genuinely enjoyed each shift
and looked forward to being there again for the next one. Finally the day came
that I had been both dreading and looking forward to… the day of my tour
certification. I was excited and completely terrified at the same time! I had
to give a tour to the Museum Educator. Seems simple enough right? Not to me.
The only thought that kept going through my mind was, “She knows everything
about the site! How can I possibly act like I’m giving a tour to someone who
knows nothing?” I finished short of the requirements needed to pass, but the
second time around (a couple weeks later) I passed!
From then
on, my favorite times at Arcadia were when I was able to give someone a tour. I
completely fell in love with it! Gone was the girl who hated speaking to
people. Arcadia helped me open up and step out of my shell. I loved interacting
with guests and sharing the history of the Arcadia Mill. I gained a confidence
through working at Arcadia that I had never known before. Tours (especially
school tours) allowed me the opportunity to learn and practice skills that I
will need when I become a teacher. I developed skills that I had always dreamed
of having.
Arcadia
(which means “rural paradise” in Greek) has helped me in ways I had never
imagined when I first applied for the job. I have grown so much in the almost three
years that I have been there. I am so heartbroken over the trials we have had
to endure lately, and I honestly cannot imagine Milton without Arcadia. The
Mill has become a second home to me, a place I have grown to love, and I’m
looking forward to being there again soon!
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