At the start of my freshman year, I didn’t know anyone. I was new to the district and nervous about starting school, especially high school. Throughout the day I was met with unfamiliar faces and names as I made my way through the unfamiliar territory. But there was one thing that remained constant. It was a place I had been so many times before despite not living in Arcadia, and after the first day of school when I walked there, I felt comforted. The Arcadia Public Library. The layout, books, people, all of it comforted me as I walked towards the teen center and sat in a familiar chair. 

Before I lived in Arcadia, I lived in Monrovia for a short period of time, where I went to a school in Duarte. I used to go to the school library, the Monrovia Public Library, and to various bookstores in the area. At some point, I was taken to the Arcadia Public Library while I still lived in Monrovia, and I was met with a bigger book selection than what I was used to. The Arcadia Public Library offered, and still offers, an extensive array of books that provides various genres and subjects for everyone to enjoy. If I wanted a book, but couldn’t buy it, the library was there. If I wanted to read a book but couldn’t find it at another library, I could find it at Arcadia. If I wanted a book, but I couldn’t find it in the library, I could find it on the Arcadia Library book app, Libby. 

I still go to the library after school, but now, I enjoy the library with my friends surrounding me, something that I am grateful for. At the library, I have also grown, as the library supported me and my friends throughout our academic lives, while also helping us relax with the various events they host for high school students. One in particular I always like is the De-Stress Fest the library holds during times of particularly stressful weeks for high school students. During the De-Stress Fest I enjoy playing with the cute therapy dogs, making calming crafts, and getting snacks. 

On rainy days, the Arcadia Public Library provides a shelter for all the people looking to get out of the rain. On warm days, people can go into the library to get out of the heat. On stressful days, people can go there to be enveloped in the calm comfort of the library. The library does so many things for the people of Arcadia, and so for that reason, I deeply appreciate the Arcadia Public Library. Thank you Arcadia Public Library for being my comfort on bad days and being a place that I can always count on.