The Penn Stater Magazine

Advice for the College-Bound from Steve Sampsell

August 3, 2011 at 4:56 pm Lori Shontz Leave a comment

Steve Sampsell ’90 is a journalist, a writer. So it’s not surprising that as he prepared for his older daughter to leave for college, he was inspired to put pen to paper. (Even though he works for Penn State’s College of Communications and his daughter, Dani, is going to Pitt.)

The result, originally just a gift for Dani, turned into Men Are Pigs: 93 Things a Dad Wants His Daughter to Know about College, a really fun self-published book full of snippets of wisdom from Steve himself, his wife, Susan Eastley ’90, ’04g, and an assortment of other friends and relatives. Dani was born in 1993, hence the 93 snippets. (Click here for more info.)

I’d like to take a moment to discuss No. 61: “No matter your major, take some introductory business classes.” Back in the day, my own dad dished out liberal helpings of that very same advice every time I called home. He’d say stuff like, “Lor, you should take a few business classes,” or “Lor, you know, a minor in business wouldn’t hurt.” That sounded like a fate worse than death, and I’d respond with, say, the news that I’d just changed my minor to sport history. I could pretty much hear him pounding his head off the wall.

Twenty-plus years later, I’m gainfully employed. The sport history minor really did come in handy as a sports writer and editor. But that said … if I could do over, I would take a few introductory business classes. I can’t believe I’m writing that.

Can’t get around it. Dads are almost always right.

Lori Shontz, senior editor

P.S. If you’ll be in town later this month, Steve will be signing copies at the Student Book Store on Aug. 21.

Entry filed under: College of Communications, Penn State alumni. Tags: 93 things, business, dads, sport history, Steve Sampsell, Susan Eastley.