JCU Blog Central

(Stunt) Driving in Pittsburgh

Tomorrow begins my second trip to Pittsburgh as part of fall recruitment travel.  Let's hope that it goes better than the first.

Hold on...don't get the wrong idea about the trip.  In recruitment terms it was stellar.  I met some great prospective students from about 15 different high schools.  That's the best part of travel - just being able to talk to great students about coming to a great institution and seeing if JCU is the best fit for them.  The worst part of travel?  Travel.   

Now, this is my fifth travel season in Pittsburgh, but I still can't get the hang of driving there.  It's almost like a nightmarish dream where you can see exactly where you want to go, but you have no idea how to get there.  And the bridges (my goodness, the bridges).  Let's just say 3 rivers + bridges + mountains + not knowing where you are going = very difficult place to drive. 

So, as most people in my position would do, I went online to download directions to my destinations.  This process met with extremely mixed results.  I kid you not, my first list of directions told me to take a u-turn on a bridge ON THE HIGHWAY!  I chose to disregard those directions and figured my own way to the college fair in a manner that would not require a stunt car and Jack Bower behind the wheel. 

Obviously, I survived my week in Pittsburgh and it repaid me by giving me an incredibly productive week of high school visits and college fairs.  I guess I'll do it again this week and hopefully I will not be asked to perform a Hollywood-style chase scene on my way to Fox Chapel. 

Ode to Travel Season

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan

Dr. Mullan obviously has never made the trip from Cleveland to Pittsburgh.  Seasoned travelers of I-80 & I-76 know that you should add at least 15 minutes to your travel schedule because there will be construction somewhere along the way.  The big surprise is seeing which side of the state line it will be on.

Why does any of this matter?  Well, it's travel season in the Office of Admission and I've already made 1 of 3-4 trips to Western Pennsylvania.  As my principle travel territory, I am responsible for educating the juniors and seniors of Allegheny county about the great benefits of a John Carroll education.   

I always have mixed emotions about travel season.  On one hand, I love going out and meeting new people.  I love talking about JCU because my experience here as an undergrad and now as an administrator have been so positive.  On the other hand, there is only so much of eating dinner in a restaurant by yourself that one person can take (read: "it can get quite lonely").  Luckily, the good usually outweighs the bad.

As I embark on my 5th travel season (wow, I can't believe I just typed that) I feel the hope and excitement that surrounds the university.  This is a very exciting time in the history of JCU.  A great sense of pride and hope resonates through every building and in every student, faculty, and staff member.  I can't wait to get out there and tell people all about it.

Allegheny County- ready or not, here I come!