In Illinois

An Interview

By Penny Shelton

What values and beliefs do you have? 

Be kind to others – that's probably the most important. Work and study hard. Be patient with yourself and with other people. Think about others as much as you think about yourself. When I was younger, my dad wrote on the bathroom wall, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” We were supposed to live by that. 

How did growing up in Illinois impact you? 

I had a very happy neighborhood. It was a lot of fun. I was encouraged to be outside a lot. We had a park right across the street. I grew up loving the outdoors. I would climb trees and eat red haws, as we called them. They were really tiny little apples. We would play in the bushes. I learned to use my imagination outside. We could see the sunset all the way to the place where the sun meets the horizon. No buildings or houses blocked our view. A lot of my memories are about being outside. 

And hula hoops came in, too. They were a new fad. Everybody had hula hoops. We would all hula hoop outside. We would play, or the dads would hang rope swings from the trees in the park. We also played softball and kickball. It was a very pleasant childhood, spent outside most of the time. Even in the winter, we were outside. Our street was a bit of a hill, so we could ride on sleds and make snow forts. So I think a love of the outside was a big influence on my childhood. 

How did having three older siblings impact you? 

One, they taught me a lot. They probably didn't think they were teaching me, but I became a teacher, and I know that the preschool years are so important. My siblings would read to me and teach me how to print my name. My mother was pretty busy, but they had more time, so they would put up a chalkboard and teach me my numbers. That probably really helped my brain development in my early, early years. I didn't go to kindergarten. My mother asked me, “Do you want to go to kindergarten?” I said, “No;” she said, “Okay, you don't have to go.” 

My mom and my sisters also taught me to sew. Clothes were expensive back then. They weren't all made in China. So we learned to sew and made lots of different outfits to wear to school.

Other than your siblings, who else impacted you during your childhood? 

My mom and dad. My mom was very patient. She was very kind. She was always willing to help me with my schoolwork or with projects for Girl Scouts. She also helped our neighbors. She knew how to cut men's hair. If someone wanted his hair cut, but maybe could not afford it, she would give a haircut for a couple of slices of cake, instead of money. I learned to be respectful of people who don't have as much money. We didn't have very much money either; I think that's why my mom tried to help people who were going through hard times. When I was little, there was a recession. The economy wasn't good. My dad got laid off, along with a lot of other people in the neighborhood. We tried to help each other out. That’s what my mom taught me.

My dad influenced me because really liked reading, especially nonfiction books. He liked science and history, and he always encouraged me to read those kinds of books.

What childhood experiences shaped you into who you are? 

I went to Catholic school, so the church did influence me. They taught us about Jesus, about how to love everyone, even your enemies, about helping the poor. The education I got at a Catholic school was good in those respects. 

What advice do you have for future generations? 

Take care of the planet. Try to become someone who helps solve the problems of climate change and the government. Look after people who aren't as well off as you are. 

What do you wish young people would understand? 

I wish they would understand that life goes fast. It doesn't seem like it when you're young, but it does. Make the most of your time. Try to help other people. Work and study hard. 

How are things different today from when you were young? 

It seems that people are not quite as nice to each other as they used to be. I don't know if that's true or not, but I think social media has made people feel that they can say whatever they want to other people. If people are face-to-face with each other, they're more careful about what they say. I feel that people need to take care of what they say to other people. 

What are your concerns for this upcoming generation? 

One of my biggest concerns is about our freedoms. We want to preserve our freedom of speech, freedom of religion – all the freedoms in our constitution. We don't want to let anyone take away our freedoms. We want to make sure our democracy survives. 

What changes are you glad to see in this generation? 

It seems like young people are very involved in what's happening with the Earth, both physically and socially. You see young people getting involved in what they believe in. That’s really important, and I'm glad to see that. 

What do you want to see in the future? 

I hope that the future generation has a good economy. I hope that they can find work that's fulfilling and can help people. I hope everyone will be able to live a life that is not necessarily happy, but contented. I once read something a psychiatrist said: “You're not going to be happy all the time, but you just try to be content with what you're doing.” So I hope that people can be content.