As educators, we don’t measure success by the money we make or even by the degrees we collect, though many of us achieve a lot academically.

For me, after 19 years of teaching and several college degrees, what fills me with the most pride is the impact I’ve had on my students. That’s what success means to me — making a real difference in their lives.

One thing people often say about me is that I’m very determined. When I set my mind to something, I go for it. A perfect example of this was when I read an article about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and thought, “Hey, I could do that, too.”

And before I knew it — and without fully realizing how challenging it might be — I launched an Imagination Library program in Purdy, in partnership with the Purdy School District. In just a few months, we raised enough donations to fund the program for about three years! Suddenly, kids in our community who may never have owned their own books before were receiving a free book every month. I know I didn’t do it all on my own, but I really felt like I was making a difference.

So, when I found out that Missouri was going to fully fund the Imagination Library statewide, I was thrilled! I thought, “Great, no more fundraising stress; I can focus on growing the program.”

But then, I received a letter

MICHELLE HILBURN

relieving me of my duties as the community coordinator, and I was crushed. I had poured my heart into something I believed was great for kids, and it felt like I was being told I wasn’t part of it anymore.

For months after, I distanced myself from anything related to Missouri’s Imagination Library. I felt invisible, like the work I had done didn’t matter.

Then, out of the blue, I got an invitation to the state’s kickoff celebration for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Missouri. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to go. I waited until the last minute to decide, and finally, I brought my best friend along for support. She knew how much this program meant to me, and I knew if I felt upset, she’d be there to lift me up.

On Aug. 27, I went to the celebration — and to be honest, I only went because I wanted to see Dolly Parton in person. Everything else was secondary.

But what happened that day was more than I could’ve hoped for. It healed the hurt I had been carrying. At one point, the Missouri Commissioner of Education asked those of us who had brought the Imagination Library to our communities to stand and be recognized. I hadn’t expected that, and the rush of emotion I felt was overwhelming. Standing alongside other community coordinators felt so validating — like our contributions truly mattered.

Oddly enough, the best part of my trip wasn’t even seeing Dolly perform. It was that simple gesture of recognition. It reminded me that what I did in Purdy really did make a difference. In fact, I played a part in helping the program expand across the state. Today, 150,000 children in Missouri get a free book each month, and our state is the only one that fully funds the program.

It’s funny how sometimes we miss the rainbow because we’re too focused on the clouds. That day helped me realize the rainbow had been there all along. I just needed time to work through the clouds.

Looking back, helping kids have access to books before they ever step foot in a school library is something I’ll always treasure.

It’s a highlight of my career that reaches far beyond the classroom.

Michelle Hilburn is the president of the Cassville Area Friends of the Library and a librarian at Purdy schools. She may be reached at mhilburn@
purdyk12.com.