By Meghan Wasson

Envision this: your hands are sweaty and you’re so nervous, you are regretting eating lunch because you’re afraid it’s going to make an impromptu appearance soon. You can’t stop smoothing your skirt or button-down shirt while fidgeting with nerves. You are waiting at a Borders bookstore for an internship interview, internally asking yourself and then answering typical interview questions. This, however, will prove to not be a typical interview.

The instant Rhonda Fischer gave me a big, welcoming hug instead of shaking my hand, the jittery nerves that had gripped me before melted away. Instead of requesting my résumé, she handed me a bottle of liquid bubble mix, instructing me to start blowing bubbles on her signal. This seemed fitting as Ms. Fischer has a bubbly and warm aura that captivates everyone, including the children who gathered to hear her read her book, “Randy Kazandy, Where Are Your Glasses?” With shining faces, they listened and sang along as Ms. Fischer played keyboard and her backup singers, three of her young piano students, sang Randy Kazandy songs. The children leapt with joy during my bubble-blowing stint, jumping and clapping their hands to catch the shining, floating orbs. Ms. Fischer read the story of Randy to them, a child who hated the new glasses he had to wear and hatched all sorts of schemes to get rid of the pesky things. Despite his valiant efforts, he is unable to accomplish his mission as new glasses seem to appear endlessly to replace each ruined pair. Randy finally accepts the glasses as part of himself, and Rhonda hopes children will take this message of self-acceptance and love with them. She told the children that Randy has a motto: “I love being me!” The kids wrapped their arms around themselves in a big bear hug and yelled in unison, “I LOVE BEING ME!”

All in all, it was a great experience for everyone. The kids had a blast singing, listening to the reading and catching bubbles. Hopefully they learned something they will take home with them and share with their friends, especially that glasses are actually pretty cool and that loving yourself is great way to be happy. I learned the same lesson, and that interviews can be fun instead of scary!