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Things to think about

An interesting group of people have appeared in Steubenville since the Herald-Star Speaker Series began in 2012.

Each has brought an interesting perspective about the world in general or a specific moment in time. And, while not everybody has agreed with everything every speaker has said, they each have offered a perspective that has encouraged residents of the Tri-State Area to think about what’s happening around us.

John Quinones was no exception.

His presentation Thursday evening inside the Berkman Theater at Lanman Hall at Catholic Central High School, reminded the 500 or so residents of the Tri-State Area who attended that if you are willing to work hard and believe in yourself, you can achieve your goals.

There was a genuine connection between the award-winning journalist and star of ABC’s “What Would You Do?” and the audience. Those who had the chance to meet him learned that the Quinones you meet in person is the same person you have come to know after watching an episode of his hidden-camera newsmagazine, a show he described as “a laboratory of human behavior.”

In short, he truly cares about people.

We saw that in the way he interacted with those who attended the VIP reception prior to the presentation and those who stayed afterward for the chance to get an autograph and have a photo snapped on their cell phone.

Quinones took the time to speak with every person who came through the line, and made sure that every book carried a personalized message.

It also was on display during lunch with series sponsors Thursday afternoon at Naples Spaghetti House. Quinones enjoyed the food and the conversation, discussing various scenarios from “WWYD” and describing what it was like to be a correspondent for ABC News and working in Central and South America. The afternoon included an impromptu visit from Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla, who received a warm response when he extended a welcome to our community.

Even those who had the chance to meet him at breakfast Friday morning at Brooklyn Bagel at Franciscan Square were impressed by how approachable he was — even though some thought for sure when they saw Quinones in the restaurant there might be hidden cameras at work and they would be presented with an ethical dilemma.

Helping to make the presentation by Quinones possible were Eastern Gateway Community College, Trinity Health System, the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Cattrell Cos. Inc., the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and WTRF-TV. Providing special support were the Inn at Franciscan Square, Piergallini Catering, Newbrough Photo and Hertz-Thrifty Car Rental.

In his presentation, Quinones shared his life story and how it relates to his work on television. And, while many in the audience recognized him through his work as a correspondent and host of “What Would You Do?” they might not have realized just how much hard work it has taken him to reach the top of his profession.

Growing up in poverty, not knowing how to speak English when he entered the first grade, being told by school officials that he would be better off in vocational training than in going to college — he refused to let anyone or anything get in the way of reaching his goal of becoming a journalist. It’s a matter of believing in your dream, he said.

His story prompted many interesting questions from the audience, and one, in particular stood out. Submitted on a comment card was: “If you did not go into journalism, what was your Plan B?”

“There really was no Plan B,” Quinones replied.

That offered a real perspective into what he has achieved, a point driven home by Mike Florak of the Franciscan University of Steubenville during a conversation he and I shared as he and his mother-in-law were waiting to see Quinones on stage after the presentation.

“That was a great answer,” Florak said about the response. “You know, it seems like every time you learn about a person who’s had great success in life, you find that they never had a Plan B.”

(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)

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