2008 Woodie Awards
Western PA is perfect place to live, despite student gripes
By Greg Reedy
Rocket Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 3/4/05 Section: Opinion
Scrounging around the Internet last night still thinking about a topic to write about, a question popped into my mind dealing with where I'll be living when I graduate. I get asked it a lot, and I really don't know what to tell people, but living around here would be just fine with me. It's the only area I know right now and moving to an unfamiliar locale, just like any change, is a little nerve-wracking. But then I also thought of another thing. Why are people around here so quick to bash this region? Sure, they may have their reasons like the poor economy in Pittsburgh or the lack of nice days around here. But there are a lot of good things around this area.
Like Joe Grushecky.
Who is that, you may ask? He's what music critics call one of the greatest rock 'n' roll legends of all-time. He's a native of Pittsburgh and he just happened to co-write a song with Bruce Springsteen. I'm sure you may be familiar with the second name. But Grushecky doesn't have music as his day job, instead he teaches developmentally and physically disabled as well as emotionally disturbed kids. That story just doesn't happen anywhere.
The point is that this region has a number of great things about it, and if people would enjoy life instead of whining and moaning about where they live all the time, they would be much better off. Where else can you find a city that has its own distinct language and dialect, (Yes, Pittsburghese, you don't see Clevelandese anywhere, do you?) a place that is nationally known for steel even after the mills shut down, or even a region that has a town called Slippery Rock. Not too shabby.
Just think about Western Pennsylvania; the region can give you hope for the future. Just look at the famous athletes out of this region. Ditka, Namath, Marion, Montana - and those are just football players. Kurt Angle went to Clarion University. He went on to win a gold medal in wrestling and then have a successful career in the WWE afterwards.
So, if you're one of those that consistently rail on your surroundings, just remember: those famous people listed above thought Western Pennsylvania was good enough and they're having a fair degree of success. You could be next.
The point is wherever people decide to live, embrace your community and don't complain to the nth degree about it. And if you are doing that, do something about it! You're here in the region for at least a little while longer. You might as well enjoy it while you can because later on you may wish you were back here again.
Like Joe Grushecky.
Who is that, you may ask? He's what music critics call one of the greatest rock 'n' roll legends of all-time. He's a native of Pittsburgh and he just happened to co-write a song with Bruce Springsteen. I'm sure you may be familiar with the second name. But Grushecky doesn't have music as his day job, instead he teaches developmentally and physically disabled as well as emotionally disturbed kids. That story just doesn't happen anywhere.
The point is that this region has a number of great things about it, and if people would enjoy life instead of whining and moaning about where they live all the time, they would be much better off. Where else can you find a city that has its own distinct language and dialect, (Yes, Pittsburghese, you don't see Clevelandese anywhere, do you?) a place that is nationally known for steel even after the mills shut down, or even a region that has a town called Slippery Rock. Not too shabby.
Just think about Western Pennsylvania; the region can give you hope for the future. Just look at the famous athletes out of this region. Ditka, Namath, Marion, Montana - and those are just football players. Kurt Angle went to Clarion University. He went on to win a gold medal in wrestling and then have a successful career in the WWE afterwards.
So, if you're one of those that consistently rail on your surroundings, just remember: those famous people listed above thought Western Pennsylvania was good enough and they're having a fair degree of success. You could be next.
The point is wherever people decide to live, embrace your community and don't complain to the nth degree about it. And if you are doing that, do something about it! You're here in the region for at least a little while longer. You might as well enjoy it while you can because later on you may wish you were back here again.
