I am RJ Gaskins, a student at Gonzaga College High School and
I will be playing football at Stanford University this fall. My
excitement for my future allows me to reflect on the past. In preschool
and elementary school I was raised by a single mother. This meant that
we found unique ways of entertainment, one of which was our local public
library. The library introduced me to books at a young age. This created
a passion for learning in me. Now public libraries include more than
just books; they have computers, video games, audio books and any other
potential learning resource a kid could ask for. I attribute most of my
success now to growing up and having access to a public library. The
library gave me a place to stay, entertain and educate myself when I was
younger. Going to school in DC has helped me learn more about issues in
the city, specifically people experiencing homelessness. Something that
I have learned is that anyone can experience homelessness. We need to
advocate on their behalf. Many people look down upon them because they
smell funny or look different, but McLean is one of the wealthiest areas
in the US and it is our job to help. The way I believe we can help this
issue is through our use of public libraries. Many libraries in DC have
extended services that help people experiencing homelessness. This
ranges from allowing the homeless to hang out in the library to
professional job analysts helping them find work. If these services are
replicated in Fairfax County public libraries then we could help get
other people out of tough situations and set them up for success. If we
provide our libraries with more resources to expand our services then it
will create a more safe and balanced community. I believe this will work
because of the foundation for success that the public libraries have
laid out for me.