"What advice would you give today's schoolchildren?"
(asked at the Bothell Regional Library on 09-05-96; published in the JA on 09-08-96)

Ruth Bacharach, Managing librarian, Lake Forest Park

"Seize every opportunity. Read. Explore. There are so many adventures and wonderful things available today that I would urge people to take advantage of them... I remember my first day of school -- of course, I had new clothes, and I was very impatient to be off to school. My mother insisted on taking my picture and now, I treasure that picture."

Mark Futterman, Administrative assistant and counselor, Bothell

"I would tell them to learn as much as they can about as many things as they can -- and to know that there's no way of knowing what is going to be useful to you and benefit you in the future... Personally, I loved language, and particularly English and creative writing. Those courses taught me to think creatively and use my mind and express myself. And those skills have come into play in just about every job I've had, and in my life generally... What I wish is that children -- all of us, really -- could learn to care about people and go beyond just thinking about ourselves."

Christopher Gannon, Painter, Bothell

"Pay attention and study hard and you won't be a painter like me. I should've studied mathematics. As you grow up, if you don't do something, it'll come back and haunt you. I didn't apply myself in math. I used the Quitter's Slogan: 'If it's too hard, I won't do it.' Now, I wish I'd studied math more because everything has math in it."

Buckley Eckert, Physician, Seattle

"I would advise them to develop inquiring minds. To me that means they develop a pattern of learning that they can use throughout their lives. They'll be facing rapid changes -- technological changes, scientific changes -- and the old model of rote memorization doesn't apply anymore. You basically have to teach people how to teach themselves... I think the Net is a good example of people having a resource they can utilize themselves -- you can basically teach yourself."

Randi McDonald, Sales representative, Bothell

"When I was a kid, I didn't realize how important getting an education would be in my life. It's really very important. It's also important to pay attention and learn as much as you can. You learn so many different things -- social skills, how to deal with people, how to play well with others -- as well as academics. And athletics. And all sorts of things... To be a well-rounded person, you need an education."

James Monroe, Sales associate, Everett

"I have two kids, ages 9 and 7, who just returned to school... As far as advice, I submit that it's important to be open and absorb the information you're receiving. Talk about it. Share it. And question it -- because even thought the information may be correct, it may not have been presented properly or completely. There's a lot of misinformation."

Copyright © 1996 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

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