Leaving Columbia for good.

One of the best decisions I’ve made this year was resurrecting my blog. It has been so fun sharing some of my stories with you. Those who have been following my blog, thank you for making this website alive again. When I started this, I’d thought that I would be talking to a ghost website that no one cares to visit but I was so wrong. I gained more subscribers and some international visitors! Although I don’t do this to gain online attraction, it’s quite fascinating and I appreciate the support.

Big announcement: after six years of working at Columbia University, I am officially out.

In 2018, I packed my bags in Atlanta and moved to NYC to pursue an MA at Columbia University. I won’t disclose what I studied but the young-20s me thought that I will join academia and become a professor. Fast forward, the plan did not work out (thank goodness. I don’t like academia because of its politics, delusional people, and poor compensation). In 2019, right before New Year’s (2020), I got a job offer from Columbia Libraries for digital preservation. Some of you may ask, “What the hell is that?” It’s ok – very few people know it, and it’s a niche field. Any kind of searchable data that’s delivered to and displayed on repositories are processed and managed by librarians. Within that there are archivists and technical processors who digitize resources for electronic records. I was part of that.

I started the job in January of 2020. As a fresh-out-of-school employee, I got to work exactly at 8:55 AM and whenever I tried to swipe my ID, the Public Safety Officer stopped me and said, “The Library is not open yet for students!” I had to show my card and say, “I’m an employee.” Even when my managers walked by, I punched numbers on Excel spreadsheets and made sure that I would finish the tasks early — ahead of other team members. Then COVID hit (cue horror sound effects). My experience of living through the pandemic in the city — especially during lockdowns — was hell.

After four months, I was asked to return to the office — adhering to strict mask and social distancing rules. The team mates and I coordinated onsite schedules weeks in advance to practice social distancing and avoid crowding the office space. What a time to be alive…

When I worked from home, I listened to old audio files and watched video clips as part of my job. And occasionally, I listened to interviews or watched videos of profound public figures including President Eisenhower, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Frank Lloyd Wright, George Harrison, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. I was constantly exposed to recorded histories and loved every minute of it. That’s when I scratched my head and pondered the idea of pursuing a Master’s in Library Science. But then, I did not want to add more debt to my already-scary Mohela account.

In 2022, I switched over to a different project. I got to work on Carnegie Corporation collection and discovered many history connections. Did you know that Andrew Carnegie was close friends with Helen Keller? One day, I was processing the Corporation papers and stumbled upon a document that talked about their friendship. Coincidentally, I was listening to The Helen Keller Exorcism episode from Radiolab (if you haven’t checked it out, you need to fix that because I highly recommend that episode!). The podcast doesn’t mention her friendship with Carnegie but examines Keller and her life with a new lens. Anyway, as much as I loved weaving the histories together as I archived the collection, I found myself bored at times and needed to figure out what my next steps would be.

I considered PhD programs. At the same time, I needed immediate cash to get by so I picked up a part-time job at J.Crew. Yes, I worked 9-4:30 at the library and 5-9 at the store. I don’t know how I did it. I was on steroids.

It was tough working multiple jobs (oh, I was also teaching violin on weekends), but I met some of the best people during this time (J.Crew besties, if you’re reading this, I love you all!). Thanks to some extra cash-flow, I also had the privilege of saving for international travels. I went to Paris for the first time and that was delightful.

Then in 2023, I switched over to another project and left J.Crew. I traveled a lot that year. I went to Korea, San Francisco, Half Moon Bay, and New Mexico. I was still figuring out what to do with my career. A couple months into the new project, I wanted to leave the field altogether.

In 2024, I took a leap of faith and studied for the LSAT. Studying for that exam was brutal and intense. Plus, my family and I were going through some challenges, and it was hard balancing that with studying. Pursuing law is not for the weak. I had to give up orchestra, quality time with friends, financial investments, and travels for the exam. I took the exam in November — right after the election. It was horrible. A test proctor came over to my desk, tapped on my shoulder while I was solving a problem, and made me read her post-it note that said, “Do not write or rip your scrap paper during breaks.” This was during the exam. Not before, not after, during. That threw me off and I was pissed. She ruined my concentration and wasted my time (I reported her to the company). Despite this long, strenuous LSAT prep phase, I was fortunate to have an accommodating, understanding boss. If it weren’t for him, I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to even attempt and pursue the exam.

Also, the University changed a lot since 2024. Why? Because of student-led protests on campus. I was right in front of the crowd when the demonstrators were arrested by NYPD. It was quite frightening — I’m not going to downplay it. Soon, there were tensions among co-workers because of the incident and mistrust between all operational departments of the school. Oh let’s not even get started with the University President. What a mess! Columbia never looked nor felt the same ever since the protest. I was also slowly “quiet quitting.”

Spotify Wrap? 2025 Work Wrap summed up in two words: lay offs. The University lost partnerships, trust, donors, funding sources, and financial security after 2024.

As much as I dreaded working in the libraries for the last two years, I’m thankful to have met some talented people and made meaningful friendships.

Six years I worked at Columbia, and for seven years I was part of the Columbia community. From student to alum to an employee. What a journey it has been. I don’t regret anything. I learned a lot over the years. It’s been fun. I’m curious to see where my next chapter will be, and I can proudly say that I’ve accomplished a lot thanks to the University.

Farewell,