Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Date: Dec 31 1969
Major: Accounting (This Major's Salary over time)
Hello everyone. My name is PHIL and I attended SIU-Carbondale back in 1979 as a Freshmen. My field of study at the time was accounting. Coming from an all-black area of inner city Chicago, I was so happy SIU gave me the chance to attend their school and be around all kinds of people from every background imaginable. I've enjoyed that more than life itself. Surprisingly, I didn't experience racism (or very very little of it) even though the school is predominately white. Everybody seem very open-minded racially speaking. Anyway, I found SIU to be a great school while I was there. Granted, it's not Harvard, Yale, Cornell or any other elite school, but SIU does give you the chance to prove yourself if you take it. This is something I DIDN'T DO AND TOO THIS DAY, I HAVE TRULY LIVED TO MAJORLY REGRET IT!!!! Let me explain, during my very brief college stay, I constantly goofed off and screw around and didn't study, fairly common among most college freshmen. As a result, I flunked out. Little did I know what the consequences would be. I was young, immature and stupid. I kept thinking, there's plenty of time for school. Therefore, no need to worry. Boy, was I wrong but badly. And to this day, I'm very bitter at myself for wasting a golden opportunity SIU gave me. Needless to say, I'm no where near where I should be professionally, financially or otherwise. At any rate, at 47 years of age, I decided I'd better get off my ass and do something about it. I have not been happy with my professional and financial life AT ALL!! Very shameful to say the least. I intend to finish what I started 25plus years ago: Getting my degree, even if it kills me. I now live in California so I'll be attending college here. There are lots of students my age back in college. Therefore, you're never too old to learn.

That said, let me offer some very wise advice: Students, whether you attend SIU or some other college, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SCHOOLING SERIOUSLY BECAUSE IT'S GONNA SET THE STAGE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! Secondly, if you don't make up your mind within a reasonable period of time about a career, LIFE WILL DECIDE FOR YOU and I can assure 9 times out 10, you'll hate it. Trust me on that one. I'VE BEEN THERE! And last, but not least, if you fail to plan for your future, I guarantee you'll give this same talk to someone your age 20 years from now. No joke! Please stay in school and finish. You'll be very glad you did. If anybody wants to write me, e-mail me at Thank you and have a nice day. Remember, keep studying! Bye. PHIL