We all see Dr. Paula McGraw working in the library, helping students with technology issues and helping them pick out books whenever they need help, but did you ever stop to think about her life before working at NPHS?

She always had a dream to become a librarian, and it all started when she was in third grade.

“I remember we had a librarian, Mr. Titus” says McGraw, “and he used to read us a book. It’s called Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty McDonald.”

Her old librarian read the book with such feeling and thought that she became inspired to be a librarian, and as McGraw grew up, she would visit the library every weekend.  Even though she always wanted to work in the library, McGraw ended up working at many different places first. She worked at three different Fortune 500 companies, in Regulatory Affairs and product management in the marketing department.

Along the way, McGraw completed a number of academic programs.  First, she got her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin.  Later, she was working for a company when she was offered a free MBA. She decided to take the opportunity. She was then later offered a free law degree, and a free degree in Library Science.

“My education was my hobby,” says McGraw. “I constantly went back to school because they would always offer me opportunities.  Even though my academic background looks impressive, it was just a bunch of opportunities that people gave me that I took advantage of.”

Then, one day, when McGraw was in her 40s, her mother sarcastically joked that she should work in the library since she loved it so much. So she decided to fulfill her dreams, and now here she is at NPHS, helping students fulfill their dreams.