Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania’s Columns
  • Advertise
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • Midnight Flight Book
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Seniors
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • The Arab street Podcast
  • Submit a Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • Chicago Wolves move to Western Conference Finals, May 2022
    Chicago Wolves win Central Division and move on to Western Conference finals Chicago
  • Convicted sex predator Anthony Martin, senior vice president at Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison's company Morrison Security. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Courts
    Sean Morrison’s judgement questioned in defending sexual predator Blogger
  • Republican conservatives Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman, Committeewoman of Orland Township, and Steve Balich, Committeeman of Homer Township, welcomed attendees at a GOP rally Friday May 20, 2022 in Orland Township
    Conservative Republican candidates rally in Orland Township Cook County
  • Chicago Wolves David Gust, from Orland Park in Chicago's Southwest Suburbs. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Wolves
    Chicago Wolves winning streak continues, one win away from another sweep Chicago
  • Chicago Wolves own Game 1 against Milwaukee Admirals Chicago
  • Congressman Sean Casten
    Casten Introduces bill to Help Communities Facing Flood Damage   Cook County
  • Former Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr., the son of the former presidential candidate and conscience of the Republican Conservative movement. Photo courtesy of Berry M. Goldwater Jr.
    Barry Goldwater Jr., son of Republican conservative icon, to keynote Gorman rally Friday Blogger
  • ormer City Hall reporter Ray Hanania, ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas, candidates for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.
    Arab Democratic Club forum hosts candidates for public office at brunch May 15 censorship
  • Orland Township hosts Job Fair
    Orland Township events: Walk & Talk program, and Summer Job Fair Business
  • Liz Gorman hosts Forum for Republican Candidates May 20. Former Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr., the son of the former presidential candidate and conscience of the Republican Conservative movement, will be a keynote speaker
    Barry Goldwater Jr., son of former GOP Presidential icon, headlines Gorman Republican Forum breaking news
  • Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the driver services facility in the Orland Township Building, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park. Also attending the ribbon cutting were (from left): Orland Township Trustee Antonio Rubino, Orland Township Trustee John Lynch, Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly and Senator Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort).
    Illinois Secretary of State’s race is a mess Blogger
  • Closure notice from Mayor Lori Lightfoot for Arab and Muslim owned Citgo Gas Station at at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago.
    Mayor Lightfoot accused of targeting Arab and Muslim stores in gang crackdown Business
  • Two backpacks full of emergency supplies sit ready for action in John and Chloe Clayborn’s Lincoln Park living room — one “go bag” for each of them.
    Maintaining Calm Amid Chaos: Families Pack ‘Go Bags’ to be Ready for Natural Disasters Features
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Dad gains sole custody to protect son from reported abuse Chicago
  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker
    Governor Pritzker joins Secretary Pete Buttigieg for ribbon cutting at Joliet Gateway Center’s new Pace bus facility Government
Altgeld Hall, and Still Hall, at Northern Illinois University. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

School should be more than just an education

Posted on August 21, 2019November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on School should be more than just an education
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

School should be more than just an education

As my son readies for college, I reminisce about what it was like 50 years ago when I left homew to go to college. It was a different world then and a different world today

By Ray Hanania

My son Aaron leaves for college next week and I spent a lot of time trying to describe what it was like when I went to college in the early 1970s. That’s when I realized how different it is today.

I don’t how families today can afford to send their kids to college without mounting huge debt. Fortunately, my son Aaron is brilliant with straight A’s since 5th or 6th Grade so the scholarships were pouring in for him. A’s were more or less a long term goal for me. During 6th grade, the principle told my mom “If little Raymond tries harder, he could be a C-student someday.”

Even with a C-minus grade point average, no money and a widowed mom, I managed to make it to college in 1971 with a large plastic bag of clothing, my guitar, and a few dollars to cover the costs of books.

Altgeld Hall, and Still Hall, at Northern Illinois University. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Altgeld Hall, and Still Hall, at Northern Illinois University. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Grant Towers North had its own cafeteria and the food was pretty good. No stuffed grape leaves or other Middle Eastern meals I loved, but the out-of-pocket costs were still pretty affordable.

Unlike my son, I wasn’t ready for college. I had aptitudes for writing and math I never seriously pursued. I was under pressure to pursue pre-med because a lot of my relatives were doctors at Christ Hospital and Northwestern. My cousin David living in Jordan was King Hussein’s heart surgeon.

I shared a dorm room with Clarence Patterson, one of two six-foot plus titan brothers who played basketball for the Huskies. Benefits included free tickets to Huskie Basketball games, and Clarence’s girl friend gave me an Afro so I could go to the team parties, though the Afro made me look more like a terrorist than I ever have during my entire life.

My mom couldn’t afford to give me any money. So I always worked, including at Berlands Shoes at the Ford City Mall while at Reavis High school. It paid for the Schlitz Malt Liquor, car insurance and marijuana. When I got to NIU, I found part-time work in the women’s shoe section at Franks Shoes – where “Business was always looking up.” It’s a shoe-store joke. What can I say?

During my sophomore year, I pledged the Theta Chi fraternity and lived on Fraternity Row where I was able to drink and smoke even more. I met Carlos Santana and partied with Mike Love of the Beach Boys. I organized the best booze parties as Social Chairman that began on Thursdays and didn’t end until Sunday nights. I washed dishes at a nearby Tri-Sig sorority house where I got free dinner.

We had a crazy president back then, Richard M. Nixon. Unlike President Trump who is doing his best to get us in to a war, Nixon was trying to get us out of a war. By the time my sophomore year ended, my low draft number compelled me to quit school and enlist in the Air Force. I was assigned to an F-111 Fighter Squadron scheduled to ship overseas to Vietnam. Before I knew it, though, Nixon downsized the war, gave me an Honorable Discharge and sent me packing to the Illinois Air National Guard in Peoria where I served a total of 10 years as a “Weekend Warrior.”

The military kicked my ass into consciousness. It was the best thing I ever did. It woke me up. Vietnam Era military service entitled me to the G.I. Bill, paying my tuition to return to Circle Campus and gave me a monthly living stipend of about $480, which was a lot back in 1973.

Before I knew it, I was recruited as a writer by the Southtown Economist to cover education.

Even though my hair was pretty straight, the FBI opened a two-year long investigation into my background. Being “Palestinian” to them meant I was a potential terrorist, even without the Afro. What a waste of money that was!

I have this strong feeling that my son’s experience in college is going to be a lot smoother and more productive. The kid’s a genius.

But if it wasn’t for the “School of Hard Knocks,” I don’t think I’d be where I am today.

Aaron has a better, clearer focus on where he wants to go. He’s going to study the environment because he is worried about the growing threat of pollution on future generations.

I know he is going to do well.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Chicago Wolves win Central Division and move on to Western Conference finals - May 28, 2022
  • Sean Morrison’s judgement questioned in defending sexual predator - May 26, 2022
  • Hurley-led Measure to Support Families of Fallen First Responders Signed by Governor - May 24, 2022
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Education, General Topics, Opinion, rayhanania Tags:1971, 2019, college, different eras, education, schools, university

Post navigation

Previous Post: Is there a politics to mass shootings?
Next Post: Orland Park native exemplifies “We Build, We Fight” legacy of Navy Seabees

Related Posts

  • Nurse Pat Hamadeh administering a flu shot during one of the Township clinics.
    Orland Township flu shots for public and continues to offer COVID vaccines to Seniors Baby Boomers
  • GOBankingRates (PRNewsfoto/GOBankingRates)
    57% of Americans Have Less Than $1,000 in Savings Baby Boomers
  • Buying a new car is so traumatic Editors Pick
  • View of the Grand Canyon. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Lifetime Senior Passes to National Parks increased Baby Boomers
  • Maria Pappas Cook County Treasurer Office. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Treasurer's office
    Pappas: 39,100 Property Owners Must Pay Delinquent Taxes to Avoid Sale Chicago
  • It's Not So Late Show interview with guest and social media phenom Salem Furrha with Aaron Hanania.
    “It’s Not So Late Show” with Aaron Hanania interviews social media leader Salem Furrha Comedy

More Related Articles

Chicago Public Schools headquarters, Chicago, Illinois. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Governor misleads voters over education funding veto Education
Guest author Drew Johnson is an investigative reporter, national columnist and former opinion page editor who serves as a senior scholar at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance. Pulitzer committee shows bias in ProPublica activist award Editors Pick
Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke and his wife. Support his family on his GoFundMe Page at https://www.gofundme.com/mdb4be Relief over Van Dyke sentencing Blogger
Why I support Toni Preckwinkle for Chicago Mayor Blogger
Southwest side pizzeria, a favorite for 20 years Entertainment
Chicago Auto Show Photo courtesy Ray Hanania Chicago’s Top Holiday & Seasonal Events Briefs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Convicted sex predator Anthony Martin, senior vice president at Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison's company Morrison Security. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Courts
    Sean Morrison’s judgement questioned in defending sexual predator
    May 26, 2022
  • Former Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr., the son of the former presidential candidate and conscience of the Republican Conservative movement. Photo courtesy of Berry M. Goldwater Jr.
    Barry Goldwater Jr., son of Republican conservative icon, to keynote Gorman rally Friday
    May 18, 2022
  • Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the driver services facility in the Orland Township Building, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park. Also attending the ribbon cutting were (from left): Orland Township Trustee Antonio Rubino, Orland Township Trustee John Lynch, Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly and Senator Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort).
    Illinois Secretary of State’s race is a mess
    May 8, 2022
  • The Political Pundit Comic Strip for May 3, 2022. By Ray Hanania
    The Political Pundit Comic Strip: Anyone who criticizes me hates the police
    May 3, 2022
  • Pekau Sign place along curb.
    Crime is down for everyone but Pekau, he claims
    April 29, 2022
  • Chicagos first minority and Woman Mayor Jane M. Byrne is often ignored by the mainstream media. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Remembering Great Chicago Mayors, not just one
    April 23, 2022

Subscribe

  • Ray-Hanania-Newsletter-300-wide-Banner.jpg

Trending

  • Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the driver services facility in the Orland Township Building, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park. Also attending the ribbon cutting were (from left): Orland Township Trustee Antonio Rubino, Orland Township Trustee John Lynch, Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly and Senator Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort). Illinois Secretary of Sta... Illinois Secretary of State's race is a mess Most elections are pretty muc... posted on May 8, 2022
  • Closure notice from Mayor Lori Lightfoot for Arab and Muslim owned Citgo Gas Station at at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago. Mayor Lightfoot accused o... Mayor Lightfoot accused of targeting Arab and Muslim stores in gang crackdo... posted on May 7, 2022
  • Classic and great tasting Shish Kabob plate with skewers of beef, lamb, and kuftah on a bed of yellow and red rice at Zwar in Orland Park. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Finally an Arab Restauran... Finally an Arab Restaurant in Orland Park Americans will love One of the b... posted on April 29, 2022
  • The Political Pundit Comic Strip for May 3, 2022. By Ray Hanania The Political Pundit Comi... The Political Pundit Comic Strip: Anyone who criticizes me hates the police... posted on May 3, 2022
  • Suspect Joseph Guzman, 20, charged in two separate homicides that took the lives of three people. April 28, 2022. Mugshot courtesy of the Cicero Police Cicero Police and Illinoi... Cicero Police and Illinois State police announce murder charges against two... posted on April 28, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Chicago Wolves move to Western Conference Finals, May 2022
    Chicago Wolves win Central Division and move on to Western Conference finals
    May 28, 2022
  • John B. Schulz, 36, of the 7400 block of Brookside Drive in Hanover Park
    Hanover Park Man Charged with Multiple Felonies After Attempt to Meet Minor for Sex
    May 27, 2022
  • ‘Weird Al’ vanity tour a smash
    May 27, 2022
  • La Grange Pet Parade returns to roots
    May 26, 2022
  • ‘Oui’ to a Paris vacation
    May 26, 2022
  • State Rep Fran Hurley 35th district
    Hurley-led Measure to Support Families of Fallen First Responders Signed by Governor
    May 24, 2022
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

The Political Pundit

Political Pundit Aug. 24, 2021. Taliban thanks president for boxes of MAGA hats
  • WORD PRESS REVIEWS
  • MyCloud by Western Digital, a hard drive that doesn't last. Don't purchase Western Digital.
    Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit
    October 17, 2021
  • Macho Themes website front page. Don't buy their themes. They don't work
    Difficulties with Macho Themes for WordPress
    August 21, 2021
  • TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
  • Netflix is the best streaming service, despite drop in stock price
    April 20, 2022
  • Book Cover "Laptop from Hell" by Miranda Devince
    Questions remain unanswered about Hunter Biden’s ties to Ukraine
    February 20, 2022
  • Amazon.com's "Day 1" tower in Seattle, WA in January 2017. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Clifford Law to sue Amazon after employee is killed by tornado at downstate distribution center
    January 16, 2022

Follow Ray Hanania at
Gab.com, MeWe.com
IDobbinate.com,
Twitter, Facebook

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

What We’re Reading

Arab News Newspaper Leading English Language Publication in the GulfArab News Newspaper

Ray Hanania on Politics
SW News Newspaper Group

  • SPORTS
  • Chicago Wolves move to Western Conference Finals, May 2022
    Chicago Wolves win Central Division and move on to Western Conference finals
    May 28, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves David Gust, from Orland Park in Chicago's Southwest Suburbs. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Wolves
    Chicago Wolves winning streak continues, one win away from another sweep
    May 23, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves own Game 1 against Milwaukee Admirals
    May 21, 2022
  • Chicago Wolves face-off with Toronto Marlies Nov. 13, 2021
    Chicago Wolves sweep AH regular season awards
    May 1, 2022
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • John B. Schulz, 36, of the 7400 block of Brookside Drive in Hanover Park
    Hanover Park Man Charged with Multiple Felonies After Attempt to Meet Minor for Sex
    May 27, 2022
  • State Rep Fran Hurley 35th district
    Hurley-led Measure to Support Families of Fallen First Responders Signed by Governor
    May 24, 2022
  • Orland Township hosts Job Fair
    Orland Township events: Walk & Talk program, and Summer Job Fair
    May 17, 2022
  • Liz Gorman hosts Forum for Republican Candidates May 20. Former Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr., the son of the former presidential candidate and conscience of the Republican Conservative movement, will be a keynote speaker
    Barry Goldwater Jr., son of former GOP Presidential icon, headlines Gorman Republican Forum
    May 16, 2022
  • Two backpacks full of emergency supplies sit ready for action in John and Chloe Clayborn’s Lincoln Park living room — one “go bag” for each of them.
    Maintaining Calm Amid Chaos: Families Pack ‘Go Bags’ to be Ready for Natural Disasters
    May 6, 2022
Two Guys on PoliticsTwo Guys on Politics

John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • Orland Township hosts Job Fair
    Orland Township events: Walk & Talk program, and Summer Job Fair
    May 17, 2022
  • Closure notice from Mayor Lori Lightfoot for Arab and Muslim owned Citgo Gas Station at at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago.
    Mayor Lightfoot accused of targeting Arab and Muslim stores in gang crackdown
    May 7, 2022
  • John Husnick provides direction at Worth Township Career Fair
    Building Trades Career Fair offers opportunities for students
    April 29, 2022
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Leving to present on dad’s rights legal issues at Horasis Global meeting Friday March 4, 2022
    March 3, 2022
Click this link to watch or use the widget below:

Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.
Email Ray Hanania for more information about performing at your event at rghanania@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme