Elise Bernal joined Castilleja’s library as the new Associate Librarian at the beginning of this school year.
Growing up in Pico Rivera, Los Angeles, Bernal attended San Gabriel Mission High School, a private Catholic school. There, she found a supportive academic environment that encouraged her to take risks. Bernal also felt deeply connected to her school community. “School was where I built a lot of awesome friendships, some of which I still have today,” Bernal said.
While she occasionally questioned religious ideas, her exposure to Religious Studies in high school allowed her to appreciate her peers’ diverse perspectives when they did not align with her own. Expressing her own beliefs about religion gave her the power to explore it, allowing her to participate as much or as little as she felt comfortable doing.
This past May, Bernal earned her master’s degree in Library and Information Science at San Jose State University. There, she said that she “was able to explore and pursue [her] interests more.”
But Bernal did not originally envision a career as a librarian. Inspired by her love of caring for her family dog, Bernal dreamed of being a veterinarian as a child. In college, Bernal turned to a different passion: art. She took ceramic and illustration classes, studied art history and philosophy and worked in art museums and archives—deepening her appreciation of art and unknowingly laying the foundation for the art she now creates with students.
However, the pandemic prompted her to reconsider her path. She began working in a public library and quickly discovered her calling. “It combined everything I liked: finding information through research and being creative by helping people with crafts and activities,” Bernal said.
At the Palo Alto City Library, Bernal assisted youth with finding sources for their research. Building relationships with these teens became her favorite part of the job. These experiences led Bernal to realize she wanted to work in a school library. Now, Bernal enjoys teaching research skills, making research accessible to all Casti students.
Coming from a public library where she didn’t interact with many teens, Bernal noticed how engaged and excited Castilleja students were about research, especially during programming. When asked to share her favorite thing about Castilleja, Bernal said, “The community. I’ve had to learn a lot in the first few months, but everyone has been really supportive.”
In her free time, Bernal enjoys reading, drawing, sewing and going on walks. “I love exploring new places, and since I’m not from the Bay Area, I feel like I’m always finding something new,” Bernal said. Along with art and nature-related activities, Bernal also appreciates cooking and trying different foods.
Looking ahead, Bernal is excited to continue experimenting with new programs here at Castilleja. Most of all, she hopes to get to know more students and watch them grow from 6th grade through graduation.
