Opportunities at UIS | An Interview with Taylor Vazquez

My name's Taylor Vazquez. I'm an English major, and in the fall I'll be starting my Junior year. Right now I'm working as a student manager for Brookens Library here at UIS. I've had this position for about two years now, and so I've just been spending my time here supervising the students, working on big projects, and just generally doing lots of awesome library work.

Freshman year I needed a job, and they were hiring. And, you know, I always… since I was little I always wanted to work at a library and be a librarian. So I saw they were hiring, and I said, "You know what, let's just go for it." And I got it, and it's been… probably the best decision I've ever made here at UIS, for sure.

I work with really awesome students, and all of the librarians are great. So everyone's awesome, super helpful. I also love the satisfaction of being able to help patrons with research questions, or helping them find books upstairs. It's just really rewarding hearing a thank you from someone.

I'm a CAP honors student. I am also a peer mentor for CAP Honors. I am a fiction editor for The Alchemist Review, which is a literary journal here at UIS, and then I'm also a founding member of Alpha Lambda Delta, which is a National Honor Society here at UIS.

Once I get my undergrad in English, I'd love to go get my degree in MILS, so Masters in Library Science. So that's the big… big goal for me for sure.

I'm from Chicago originally, in the city, so coming to Springfield was a big adjustment from big city to small town. But I really like the smallness of the school, and being able to have a close one-on-one relationship with my peers and professors was really important to me.

The amount of opportunities that have been given to me… It's absolutely unreal. I don't know if I'd ever be where I am right now without UIS. I mean there's so many resources here and people here who want to help you succeed and get ahead with your future. So just the opportunities for sure.

Interviewer: Are you happy you chose UIS?
Taylor Vazquez: One hundred percent. I can't see myself anywhere else. I… That's really my answer for that question. I'm so happy here. Very grateful for everything that the school has… has offered me. Definitely.

Transcribed on 2/25/23