By Staff Writer: Julia Simmons
Going to a work conference always seemed like a distant, intimidating corporate experience. It felt like something only true adults did—and at 28, I still don’t quite feel like one. So when my employer “voluntold” me that I’d be attending the New Mexico Library Association’s conference in Albuquerque, I was nervously optimistic. I’m still fairly new to my position, and I hoped the event would help me grow and improve in my role.
The conference lasted three days, with multiple sessions and speakers scheduled each day. Some days I struggled to find a talk that grabbed my interest; other days, I had to make tough choices between overlapping sessions I really wanted to attend. My favorite presentation focused on the Summer Reading Program—an event I’ll be responsible for hosting soon and have been quite anxious about. The speaker shared creative ideas and practical tips, which helped ease my worries and gave me the confidence to tackle the program head-on.
We stayed in the same hotel where the conference was held, which made getting to sessions a breeze. The rooms were comfortable, and the city covered my meals, so overall, I had a wonderful experience. I came home feeling more informed, inspired, and grateful that I had the opportunity to attend. I had no real reason to be so anxious about work conferences, and neither do you!