Your Propane Peers Answer: What Would You Go Back to School For?

Lifelong learning has no interest for some and inspires others. This month’s question returned several uncommon responses from our colleagues around the country. 

In this column, adopted from the familiar “Heard on the Street” format, we offer our responders a chance to answer the question posed in the title. These are their replies reported verbatim. 

Propane Colleagues Considering Classes… 

I’d love another chance to learn a new language that I could use to connect with people I see every day. Learning to speak Spanish in a classroom setting would be a challenging opportunity to flex my brain muscles, and the reward would be immediately beneficial as so many of the people in California are native Spanish speakers. I’m using an app to learn on my own, but I’d love to be learning from an instructor in a classroom, too. 

Josh Simpson 
Little Kamper LP 
Manteca, California 

If I were to go back to school, there would be a few areas of interest. If staying in my current role, or a similar job, I would consider either an MBA program or a master’s in organizational psychology. Either of these programs would allow me to further my leadership training and coaching skills. A previous “Verbatim” question asked us what profession we would do if not our current, and I said I would be a grief and loss doula. To be a doula would require me to complete a doula certification, and there is an additional grief support program. 

Lauren Clark 
Berquist Inc. 
Toledo, Ohio 

What would I go back to school for??? NOTHING! Absolutely nothing. This question might have drawn a different answer from me 10 years ago. Now, I truly don’t want to learn anything new! Although, continuing to work seems to force me to learn new things daily. Education of all forms is a necessary part of life. Now, excuse me while I learn to use this new phone I was forced to buy!! 

Paula Moore 
Blackburn Propane Service Inc. 
Durant, Oklahoma 

If I went back to school, it would definitely be for a degree in archaeology. I’m fascinated with history and how societies functioned many hundreds, even thousands, of years ago. The most interesting aspect of archaeology for me is piecing together how people lived by the little clues they left behind. Archaeology to me is really putting together a puzzle where a few pieces may be missing or yet to be found. I don’t think I’d give up my day job to be an archaeologist, however. I feel like archaeology would be more of a hobby. It would be something I would do in the summertime, as a vacation of sorts, traveling to exotic locations and rediscovering items that have been lost for centuries. 

Don Montroy 
Bergquist Inc. 
Rockford, Michigan 

I would go to a trade-type school and learn other common trades. Maybe carpentry, landscape or advanced bookkeeping. 

Richard Strycharz Jr. 
Walter’s Propane 
Sunderland, Massachusetts 

Psychology. We interact with people all day long. Understanding more about the human psychology would benefit greatly in all aspects of life! 

Abby Thurston 
Rural Computer Consultants 
Bird Island, Minnesota 

I don’t think I would change anything from the past. Happy with my education, family and career, but I might consider going to a tech school to learn a trade. I think I would like to do some carpentry in my next chapter and take that “skill” to help with areas of disaster and need. I want to do more than pick up debris when volunteering. 

Tom Krupa 
NGL Supply Terminals Co. 
Richmond, Virginia 

If I had an opportunity to go back to school, it would be for professional counseling. Having lived through many life events, it would be gratifying to help other people. I enjoy helping people and offering some solutions to their issues. As we grow and age, we develop wisdom. This wisdom through experience can help guide people to have happier and productive lives. Having built numerous relationships in business and community, I would feel very good about sharing ways to deal with problems. It is all about giving back and helping people. 

Ed Varney 
Topline Management 
McKinney, Texas 

As an “older worker” and closer to retirement, going back to typical school is not an option. However, there are a variety of ways I could engage in educational and learning activities that could fulfill the need for personal growth and fulfillment. I think any learning opportunities available to update my skills so I can keep up with my younger colleagues and, more importantly, stay relevant in the propane industry would be beneficial. With the continued use of technology along with the advent of AI, being a lifelong learner will provide you with many health and career benefits. If you don’t continue to learn and adapt, you will become extinct. 

Jerry Schimmel 
P3 Propane Safety 
Cumberland, Rhode Island 

I have gone back to school — over and over again. I guess I like it. I took history, creative writing and some French courses (to ensure I don’t lose the ability to communicate in that language). I also accumulated a few more degrees in the process. What would I take today? Spanish (as my high school Spanish is a distant concept at this juncture) and a physics course. No idea why — I just would. 

Leslie Woodward 
Fairview Fittings 
Oakville, Ontario, Canada 

If I had a chance to go back to school, I would go back for marine biology. Before I got involved with horses, I always had a love of dolphins and would have loved to work alongside them in a rehab sanctuary. 

Judy Taranovich 
Proctor Gas Inc. 
Proctor, Vermont 

My background in education has always been STEM-oriented, but one of my favorite classes in college was an elective in the study of literature. It really opened my eyes to the benefits of understanding the perspectives, influences and biases that are present in every authored work. So, if I were to go back to class, I’d focus on liberal arts of all kinds, probably leaning toward art, history and politics. 

Bruce Swiecicki 
National Propane Gas Association 
Tinley Park, Illinois 

Learning Lessons 

Had enough? Eager to wrap your head around something of interest or your voice around some words in another language? I noticed that our responders were not blaming the lack of time for not pursuing their varied interests in the classroom. Is the concept of lifelong learning one that needs more inspiration than time? I leave you this month with quotes from two philosophers: 

“Learning never exhausts the mind.” — Socrates 

“The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.” — B.B. King

To learn more about your propane colleagues, check out the past issues of Verbatim.