I started working in SCUA under the Women Veterans Historical Project in September 2025 as a research graduate assistant. I had just started my master’s program in Library and Information Science, and I was really looking forward to working in the archives and gaining new experiences. Throughout the year, I processed two collections, participated in two exhibits, and created a libguide for WVHP! 

In the beginning, I was very excited yet nervous since I was in a new working environment and learning new skills. The first exhibit was for the annual WVHP luncheon, and we focused on WWII. Luckily, I had a partner where we divided the branches between us, and my part consisted of the Army (including the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion) and the American Red Cross. While completing the exhibits, I gained a newfound appreciation for women veterans and learned a lot about what goes into curating an exhibit! 

Also, creating the libguide and processing two collections developed my research and writing skills! I really enjoy doing research, so creating the libguide was a blast. It was also a lot of fun to find the resources for books and websites while also highlighting the women in the collections. Moreover, I think my favorite part of the year was processing collections. I was able to see the person outside of the materials while also keeping in mind what a researcher would look for.  

Overall, this past year working in SCUA has been amazing and I am excited to return for my second year. I will definitely use these skills in my future career!