Campus employees and students
who have had between 10
and 50 years to reflect on their 20s
told the Centurion what they wish
they would’ve known when they
were younger.
“My dad used to tell me, stay
single, you’ll have lots of money.
I didn’t listen,” said Jim Nasta,
who works in the bookstore.
Some wish they would’ve made
different career choices.
“When I was in my 20s I
wanted to be a police officer and I
waited until my 30s. I wish I
would’ve done that sooner,” said
John Baranich of campus security.
“I wish I had studied what I
wanted to study and not what my
parents wanted. I wanted to study
fashion and I have a degree in elementary
education. Not that I
didn’t do something important,”
said Elaine Bilk, an administrative
assistant.
Others would’ve been more
sure of themselves.
“I could have used more self
confidence. It might have made a
difference in where I pushed myself.
I don’t regret any decisions
I’ve made. I’m happy where I am.
I’ve had the opportunity to work
helping people,” said Bonnie
Brandt, who works at the help
desk at Bucks.
“The main thing is not to be
afraid to try. The worst thing that
can happen is you have to try at
something else. Don’t be afraid to
take chances,” said Marian
Colello, who works for Academic
Support Services.
“Don’t believe anything you
hear. Trust yourself,” said Carol
Ford, who works in the book
store.
“We are much more cautious as
younger people. There’s nothing
wrong with taking a chance and
trying something else. It’s okay
not to be sure,” said Colello. “Life
is going to be an adventure.”
“I would tell myself to focus
and not pay so much attention to
what other people had to say,”
said Tom Plassa, an art student.
“It’s kind of a trick question because
I wouldn’t have listened to
me anyway.”
Some wish they would’ve taken
life a little less seriously.
“Relax. You’ll get there. I
wanted to be a great artist.a
great something. Whether you get
there or you don’t you might as
well be relaxed on your way there.
Why waste good energy?” said
Charles Mann, an English professor.
“You truly don’t want to know
everything ahead of time.Without
obstacles there’s no challenges,”
said Kathryn McConnell, a student
worker in theAcademic Support
Services office.
“I’m appreciative of the hard
times because those are the times
we learn the most,” said Mc-
Connell. “When you think about
it the days when you feel like you
are at your worst are when you
learn the most.”
Bilk warns that life goes by
pretty quickly.
“When you give birth, kiss your
kids because the next day they are
going to college. When they go to
college kiss them again because
the next day they are getting married,”
said Bilk. “Life just goes
forward. you can’t always plan it.”
People who thought back on
their lives saw education as valuable.
“Absorb as much education as
you can. Stay in school. The most
important thing you can do is
learn as much as you can,” said
Bunky Lancaster, a custodian.
“Stay focused on your education,”
said Charles Beem, a faculty
adviser for the honors society
and a business professor.