It’s always a pleasure to return to my alma mater, Lafayette College, in Easton, Pennsylvania. Last night I participated in a panel discussion with three other alumni, discussing occupations in the arts and communication fields. First we answered questions monitored by the career center emcee, Maureen Walz Boehmer, then we each took a table and had dinner with students who wanted to meet us personally and ask their own questions.
I enjoyed talking with these eager young men and women whose hopes and dreams for the future are bright, yet tinged with concern about the economy and how they will fare in it. Alberto Rojas of HarperCollins and I both concurred that excellence rises to the top among job applicants, that there’s always a need for enthusiastic workers who are willing to begin at the bottom, have a strong work ethic, and again, are committed to excellence. These are qualities that have been instilled in generations of Lafayette students.
A funny thing occurred when I mentioned what year I graduated and how I used to feel so close to that date, until several years later I was watching a movie from that era and was shocked at how differently everyone looked and how disco was a big deal. One of the students asked me, “Did you really wear Spandex?” I laughed. “Not at Lafayette,” I answered. “It was preppy all the way here.”
As a follow-up to my last blog, I want to commend Borders for taking seriously my letter of complaint about a display I saw, at eye-level, among kids’ merchandise, of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. I was there with my 5 year-old son, and I was appalled that it was right there, for him to see. (The topless model is barely covering herself. Swimsuit issue? I’ve never worn a swimsuit like that!) Many other parents wrote to tell me they’ve had similar experiences with their kids at other store check-outs. Well, kudos to Borders! They heard and responded. They are moving the display to a more discreet area. That’s one small step, but giant leaps often follow!
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