by Margot Callahan, Contributing Writer
Just like a lot of young adults, (and likely you) I picked a college and a major when I was 17 years old. Clarion State College, now PennWest Clarion, had a good communication program – just what I needed to become a disc jockey, television anchor or sports commentator. I was opening my first window into my future.
Graduating with good grades and a healthy dose of optimism and fear, (not a bad thing) I got a job as a DJ in my hometown and the local TV station was considering me for on-air work. (Yeah!) Instead of honing my skills and staying for a year and getting a job before quitting, (do this) I left for Boston with no job in site. (Don’t do this.)
Fortunately, the area was thriving and I fell into a good entry-level job at a cable television office and was able to host a small show and do color-commentary for various Harvard sports. (My window into the future was clean and clear.) Thinking that I was off-track, (I was naive and needed a mentor in my profession – find one!) I left that job and went to Europe on my savings for a month. (Not necessarily bad, but I probably should have done this right after college.) Upon my return, my former company asked me back at double my pay and on track to becoming a general manager, but I said “No.” (Don’t necessarily do this. I could have made A LOT of money and good connections.) I thought I needed to give this TV thing another try.
I moved back to the Burgh and in with my brother and his new wife, (never do this) and bussed tables at Olive Garden, (always work – no work is too small) for a month before I found an entry-level job at WTAE in the news department. I had a great couple of years working with some really talented and fun people. But, without a mentor or someone who could help me weigh my options, (repeat, get a trusted mentor!) I decided to leave TV and work for a pharmaceutical company. (Never leave a job that you love for work that you think you should be doing to climb the corporate ladder.)
I stunk at this job in their marketing department, but fortunately they sponsored a professional bike race which introduced me to the second part of my life. (The saying: “When a door closes, a window opens” is more likely to come true if you have lots of windows. Gain experience! Make windows!)
I was so taken with the sport that I left my hated job and moved to Italy to learn the language and improve my cycling. Were there men involved in this decision? Of course there were! I was 30 years old and having a grand time. (When you’re in your 30s, you still think you’ll be young forever, but boy will time begin to speed up!)
What do you do when you’re a cyclist and fluent in Italian? You become a bicycle tour guide in Italy and have the time of your life, make no money and have no life insurance. (Not a great idea, but SO fun.)
I returned with an Italian husband and decided to run an airbnb inn, and failed miserably at this. (But I was in my mid-thirties, and full of optimism and had made many windows.) My husband had no experience in the USA, so I was the breadwinner, and we looked for windows together.
When I reached my 40s, (how does this happen overnight? It will to you too : ) after various jobs and some freelance gigs, a window that I had never opened was put front and center. All along, I had been honing my skills as a handyman/person/they/them and had enjoyed renovating the starter houses we could afford. (Save, save, save to buy a fixer-upper. Renting is throwing your money away.) We began to buy those that needed an update and either rented them out or sold them at a profit. After 25 years and arthritic hands from all the manual labor, we finally had insurance and a nest egg!
Then, accepting what may be an opportunity (always say, “let me think about it” before saying “Yes” or “No”) I started driving, delivering and doing social media for the Amish and their various businesses. The photography and writing classes I took 40 years ago have become very useful, at this, (geez, I hope) final, professional change in my life. I guess you could say that the decision I made when I was a very young, very naive 17 year old was the right choice after all.
I wish all of you who are embarking on the next step of your lives the luck that I had and the good fortune to say, “Yes” to opportunity and not overly worry about false starts. Build many windows. If I can do it, you can too.
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Margot Callahan called Highland Park home, but now enjoys the beauty of Lancaster County. Writing for many years, she now shares her short stories with others.
