Sep 18, 2006 5 min read

One of the saddest days in my life was when I had to come back home after graduating from college in the spring of 1976. I had enjoyed my days in State College, attending Penn State University, but now it was time to leave. My future was anything but certain. I had no job and wasn’t sure when or where I would get one.

All I really knew back then was I was saying goodbye to a place that I had come to love. Certainly, there was no question that I had received a first-rate education. I studied journalism there and felt that my professors were all top notch. I was challenged, but I was also encouraged along the way. They passed on the notion that journalism was important stuff, and we could play a key role in making life better for our fellow citizens.

Socially, I also had a great time. And it wasn’t just the parties, concerts and the football games.

It was also about meeting all sorts of different and interesting people. While State College was an exciting town even back then, the best thing about the place was the people. Growing up in a small Beaver County town, I had lived somewhat of a sheltered life. But at State College, I was exposed to wonderful people from of all kinds of backgrounds, nationalities and religions. I had learned a lot just from talking to them and best of all I ended up being good friends with many of them. And now I was telling them goodbye. For many, it would be the last time we would meet.

I was reminded of all the uncertainty and anxiety when I paid a recent visit to State College. I was accompanying my wife on a conference there, and I was looking forward to spending some quality time with her in the evening and also checking things out during the day at my old school.

It was pretty amazing to see all the changes, especially downtown. There were still some familiar sites such as the Corner Inn and the nearby Zeno’s bar. I remember attending its opening night back in the mid-1970s.

The All-American Ratskeller, another landmark bar, was still there as was McLanahan’s and the Student Book Store. But that was about it. Both College and Beaver avenues were chock full of all types of new stores and restaurants. In between the two, Calder Alley had been renamed as Calder Way and was filled with numerous shops and eateries.

I drove down to the place I lived while going to school, 601 S. Pugh St. It was a big, old four-bedroom, brick house and surprisingly the place didn’t look any worse for the wear. An old couch had been replaced by a futon on the front porch. In the back yard, where we played volleyball, there was now an apartment building.

I thought about knocking on the door and introducing myself, but I didn’t want to scare or alarm anyone, so I just walked around the sidewalk, thinking of all the great times I had enjoyed while living there.

On campus, there were several new buildings, and the HUB looked strikingly different from the old student union where I used to spend a lot of time in between classes.

But most of the buildings were there when I was around. There was the Eisenhower Chapel, where I served as a best man when two of my best friends got married. There was also the Forum, where I remembered not so fondly taking a geology course at 8 a.m., three days a week.

There was also Pattee Library now called Pattee/Paterno Library in honor of donations made by Joe Paterno, Penn State’s legendary football coach, who by the way is in his 40th year of coaching the team. And to think that we thought he was an old guy back then.

Then, there was the Carnegie Building, where I took my journalism classes. It still looked the same outside, but it had changed greatly inside. The classrooms looked all new with fancy computers instead of our old typewriters.

I surveyed the room where I had my first journalism class. I remembered the professor telling us that if we got below a C, we wouldn’t be allowed in J-School. To my everlasting relief, I got a B, and my journalism career was alive and well.

There was also Old Main and its picturesque lawn, leading to College Avenue and the wall where many students were still enjoying a brief respite before heading to classes or home.

The two days went by quickly, and I soon headed back home. It had been an enjoyable vacation albeit a brief one.

I had become somewhat reacquainted with my wife and had spent two days basically loafing, which was a welcome change from my hectic days here at the newspaper.

Once again I found myself not wanting to leave State College but realizing there was no other choice. It was time to rejoin the rat race. On the drive home, I reflected on my prior journey home 30 years ago.

At least this time, I had a job and knew where I was headed. And I realized how lucky I was to have such fond memories of my days at Penn State University.

Mark O’Keefe is the executive editor of the Herald-Standard. O’Keefe can be reached by e-mail at mo’keefe@heraldstandard or by phone at 724-439-7569.