Andrew Maggio College ExperienceOne of our 2014 graduates, Andrew Maggio spoke to the College Experience Employment class on the date of Wednesday, May 20, 2020. He lectured about patience with regards to his current career in retail. He explained a job may not be a permanent solution, but more of a starting point on where they want to be in life. The only way to get to your true goal is to be patient. He also mentioned that retail may look easy but it is not particularly smooth during the Holiday Season. Andrew has also given back to the Albany community in the form of being a blood donor and told the students, “Even though you may be working that does not mean that you should not spend time volunteering whether that means donating blood or helping out at a local food bank if you have enough window time, that is.”

Andrew implored to the class that they must be flexible or else “you will be in a total mess.” That does not mean that just because you work on weekends, you cannot have a little bit of fun. But you just have to know when is the proper time to have fun. You might make some mistakes in between, but it does not mean it is the end of the world. We all make mistakes, although we do not have to dwell on them because we are human.

One student asked Andrew how he handles the stress. Andrew answered, “He has to have a positive attitude and a good night’s rest. Finally, remember to take breaks in between because you do not want to overstress yourself. If retail is not the goal you are expecting, do not worry about it. You have to start at the bottom and work your way up.” Andrew wants to be a key public speaker, but he sees retail as a starting point. Whatever your job happens to be, remember to start at the bottom and work your way up. Using his trademark humor, Andrew explains “If you do not work your way up…you will whine a lot like a pup.”