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Nia Kearney

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Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Travel And Tourism
  • African American Studies

Reading

  • Adult Fiction
  • Academic
  • Classics
  • Fantasy
  • Historical
  • Anthropology
  • Literary Fiction

I read books daily.

Bio

My life journey began in 1994 in the city of Willingboro, New Jersey, where I was born into a military family. We shortly left the United States, to be stationed in Okinawa, Japan, our first base. All throughout my formative years was spent living in various foreign countries. Because of the Air Force, I had the privilege to travel and live in the mainland and islands of Japan, Italy, Germany, Slovenia, and South Korea. Although it was sometimes difficult to transition from place to place, it was a wonderful and informative experience that I felt blessed to have. Despite my many travels and residences, I always returned to a small town called Warrenton, North Carolina. It is my family’s ancestral home and many generations still lived there. Although I was not a resident, I was active in summer programs growing up and spending hours the local library, Warren County Public Library. One pivotal moment in one of those summers, was when I was in college, my family and I did a presentation for the annual summer reading program. The theme was traveling and learning about different cultures, and how one may explore through reading. I was able to share the masks we brought from Italy, a Kimono for the kids to try on, and an assortment of Kokeshi dolls. Seeing the enthusiasm of the kids and parents about the stories moved me. It made me realized how integral libraries are for the community. Which is why I want to pursue a degree in Library and Information Science. I want to provide a positive impact in the communities that shaped me.

Education

American Public University System

Bachelor's degree program

2017 – 2019

Majors:
  • English Language and Literature/Letters, Other

University of Mount Olive

Associate's degree program

2012 – 2014

Majors:
  • General Studies

Miscellaneous

Majors of interest:
Library and Information Science

Career

  • Teacher's Aid

    Preschool Teacher (Daycare) · Ray & Joan Kroc Center

    Jan 2016 – Jan 2017

  • Teacher's Assistant

    Childcare · Osan Air Force Base Child Development Center

    Jan 2019 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Libraries
Dream career goals:
Planner/ Outreach & Director
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Gullah / Southern Studies South Carolina Scholarship
I am interested in helping minority communities because my parents instilled in me love reverence and pride in my heritage. They often imparted the belief me and my siblings that we are the “descendants of survivors” and that it is our duty to preserve and honor their rich legacies. Having cultural pride not only extended to my ethnic heritage but in my family history. From childhood into adulthood, hearing the stories of my elders about their experiences have interested me. My interest in oral stories and cultural history has sparked my interest in obtaining my MLIS degree with a focus on Archival Studies and I also want to minor in African American studies. There are so much contribution and people that been lost in the annals of history that needs to be pushed into the mainstream. I believe that the Gullah-Geechee culture is very beautiful. How the descendants and ancestors `carved out their own identity in a new world. What sparked my interested in the Gullah-Geechee culture was my introduction to Julie Dash's Daughter of the Dust the film and subsequent novel. The visuals, traditions, and rituals portrayed on film intrigued me. I desired to know more about the culture, so I wrote my BA senior thesis on the oral traditions and themes presented mediums were a powerful depiction of unique society that was initially started by a people that was stripped away their cultural identity. The story of Igbo Landing and the mass suicide was haunting.Learning of their resilience made me desire to learn about the Gullah culture and share it to the public. The Gullah-Geechee culture is integral part of the rich American tapestry that should be honored. As I go forward into my Master's program, I hope to do this as an Archivists.
Nia Kearney Student Profile | Bold.org