Never Too Late: Emilee Norris’s Journey to Her Dream Career
On May 8th, Emilee Norris will cross the stage at The University of Southern Mississippi, proudly earning her Master’s Degree of Learning and Information Science – a degree that not only marks a major academic achievement, but also a deeply personal victory. Emilee’s story is one of reinvention, perseverance, and the kind of quiet, determined passion that lights the way for others to follow.
From the Classroom to the Circulation Desk
Before Emilee ever stepped into a library as an employee, she spent nearly a decade teaching. Her classrooms were filled with students learning tested subjects, many of whom faced emotional and behavioral challenges. It was exhausting work – and eventually, she realized it was time for a change.
“I knew after my first day of working in the public library that it was my place,” Emilee reflects. “It was where I belonged. In the almost decade that I taught, I never felt that way. I never felt completely ‘good’ at my job. I knew the library was the place where I could excel.”
That certainty fueled a courageous leap into graduate school, and it hasn’t always been easy.
Finding Strength, Securing Support
Before taking her first class, Emilee achieved one of her proudest accomplishments – earning a competitive grant from the Mississippi Library Commission to fund her tuition. This not only allowed her to avoid using her husband Sellers’s GI Bill, but it was an early affirmation of her capabilities in her new field.
Time, however, proved to be her biggest challenge. Balancing a full-time job, a demanding academic load, and a home life with a husband who worked nights tested every limit. But Emilee pushed through, crediting not just her own resilience but the unwavering support of those around her.
One professor, in particular, left a lasting mark during a course on Library Management. As a new branch manager herself, Emilee leaned on this mentor’s guidance through tough, real-world challenges. “I valued those conversations very much,” she says.
Becoming the Librarian She Was Meant to Be
Graduate school didn’t just equip Emilee with technical knowledge – it gave her something more powerful: belief. “Professionally, graduate school has shown me that I will be a good librarian,” she shares. “Personally, graduate school showed me that I can do anything.”
She describes her grad school experience in three unforgettable words: “screaming, crying, throwingup” – a tongue-in-cheek nod to a Taylor Swift parody, but also a candid summary of the emotional rollercoaster that is higher education.
But through it all, Emilee held tightly to a quote from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, one that echoes the heart of her journey:
It’s never too late, or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be…
A Journey Rooted in Love
Emilee’s educational journey is tightly intertwined with her love story. She and Sellers met in early 2020, navigated long distances, opposing schedules, and the chaos of a pandemic, before getting married later that year. Despite it all, they built a life of deep support.
When Emilee was readmitted to USM after prior health-related withdrawls, Sellers stood firmly by her side. He supported her through assignments, practiced presentations, took over chores, and brought home Reese’s cups after long nights of studying. “I would not have earned my degree without him always being my teammate,” Emilee says.
And it’s only fitting that her graduation photos were taken on USM’s campus – a place that has long held special meaning for the couple. Sellers grew up tailgating there, proposed to Emilee there, and now, it’s where she celebrates one of the most transformative achievements of her life.
Every Detail Tells a Story
In her graduation photos, Emilee brought along more than just a cap and gown. She included cherished childhood books like A Letter for Amy and Peter’s Chair, a Cat in the Hat doll from her childhood, and a pearl necklace gifted to her by her mother-in-law, Linda – a symbol of love, family, and legacy.
Her graduation cap is adorned with a replica of a library borrowing card stamped with her name and degree, and the quote that carried her through: “It’s never too late.”
And the confetti? “Well,” Emilee smiles, “confetti is just fun.”
What’s Next?
After graduation, Emilee and Sellers are ready to hit the road. With Sellers retiring on May 31st, they’re finally free to travel – and to simply be together without the restrictions of opposite work and school schedules.
Looking ahead, Emilee sees herself continuing to serve the public through her work in libraries. “I love it,” she says without hesitation. “Libraries and library services are a vital part of the community.”
Words of Wisdom
For those just beginning their grad school journey, Emilee offers this heartfelt advice:
“It’s going to be hard. There are days when you think you can’t go on, that you are too tired, or that it is all too much. But you can go on. And it is so worth it in the end.”
From teacher to librarian, from overwhelmed to empowered, Emilee Norris is living proof that it’s never too late to chase what lights you up. Her story is one of love, grit, and the quiet strength it takes to start again.
And I couldn’t be prouder to say – Congratulations, Emilee! You’ve made the best of it.
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