My most memorable moment from the 2016 ALA Annual Conference didn’t happen in the exhibit hall. Instead, it occurred in a shuttle bus being transported from our hotel to the conference. I had just run as fast as I could to catch a bus that was about to leave, and I wasn’t alone. The bus door closed, and the bus began rolling, when passengers noticed a young woman coming out the of the hotel, wanting to take the bus. The bus driver was asked to stop, which he did. But the woman began to turn back to the hotel, to get out of the heat and wait for the next bus. The ALA group asked the driver to open the bus door. Then the whole bus of attendees yelled, “Come on! You can make it!” The somewhat red faced woman apprehensively turned, walked towards the bus, and boarded. As she sheepishly walked to the back of the bus to choose a seat, everyone on the bus shouted, “Never give up!” I can attest that this year’s conference attendees were truly an inspirational group of people. If you’re passionate about what you do, remember these words: “NEVER GIVE UP!” They’re words to live by.
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