Library roots

A friend sent me a link to a wiki for collecting Library stories, specifically your route into librarianship, and where that sprang from, so I thought I would try to catalogue (did you see what I did there?) my roots and route, although it feels like archaeology it was so long ago.
The wiki is here: http://libraryroutesproject.wikkii.com/wiki/Main_Page
I wanted to be a fighter pilot when I was about 10 or 11, but my Dad - he was a Chief Tech in the RAF - informed me that I couldn't because I was a girl. Somewhat taken aback, I shelved any plans for a career until secondary school, when I planned to be a Medical Technician as I liked science, particularly biology and chemistry. Just as I was starting the Sixth form, to do English, French and Biology A levels, we moved house as Dad had been posted to another RAF base. I had to go to a girls' school (that is another story!!) and we had to fight to keep my A level choices because one didn't mix arts and sciences, apparently. This meant I had to do my English exams separate from everyone else as they clashed with Biology. During this time I was helping out in the school library with my friend Siobhan and Mrs Calverley the English teacher. I really liked it; I was a timid child, you know, I wanted to run away and join the Library. I decided on this basis to try for a Librarianship degree rather than doing an HND in Medical Lab Technology or whatever. I didn't get great grades, as I hated the school, but I got interviews and offers from Newcastle and Brighton, and the grades were enough for Brighton. It wasn't a bad degree, not too many lectures ;-) and it was 40% French as the degree was Librarianship with Modern Languages. I managed to pass, and the rest is history, more or less. I worked for a firm of management consultants in St James' in London for 3 years, then went and worked in the voluntary sector - not as a librarian - for a while, including doing community theatre. I came back to librarianship when I got tired of not having any money, luckily at the time it still paid better than the voluntary sector. I think it still does, if you're lucky. I've been involved in both the British and Scottish law librarians' membership organisations, which I would recommend, whatever field you work in, as it's a great way to gain committee experience - you aren't supposed to enjoy it! It's been fascinating to see how the profession and our professional environment has changed, and it is still changing, which is what keeps me going.