The Under 30: John Petrongolo
The Under 30 is a series that explores the lives of the young people around us. Learn more about why we’re doing it here.
John J. Petrongolo // 27 // Philadelphia, PA // Civil Engineer & Project Manager
Time of My Life Part I: A Boat in Miami
Right after I graduated college, John invited myself and a few of our friends to go with him to meet his dad in Ft Lauderdale. They were going to keep his family’s boat down there for the winter, and so we were going to fly down, meet his dad in the harbor, and spend a few days down there.
During the trip, we had the chance to take the boat over to Miami for a day. We rode in, spent the night going out in the city, and had an overall ridiculous time there. It even inspired me to write this. It was a real blessing and a real treat.
Time of My Life Part II: The Family Business
Much of John’s family works together at a major construction firm in the Philadelphia area. John himself doesn’t work with the firm now, but through the years he’s had the opportunity to do so a few times, and plans to head back to it eventually.
What strikes you about the organization and the family members that work there is how seriously they take it. It’s not just a family business, it’s a highly successful, large-scale operation that takes a huge amount of coordination and a highly competent staff. The people there aren’t just given their positions or responsibilities, they have to show their worth their weight. It’s the best kind of family business, and the best kind of family.
Time of My Life Part III: Petrongolofest
The best representation of how welcoming John and the rest of his family is can be found on full display every year during their family party. Not only do they invite their relatives and friends to enjoy a full spread and open bar at their home every year, they’re happy to have all of John and his siblings’ friends crash the party. It’s the most warm, inviting environment you can imagine, full of people who make you feel like you belong, even if they’ve just met you.
It’s a great encapsulation of John.
Straight From the Source
What’s your Favorite Hobby?
Depends.
Let me preface this — the way I type on the internet is not grammatically correct, whatsoever. It’s free-flowing — I hope TGYN has an editor for all your sake. (Editor’s Note: Uhh…sure.)
If not, pretend your texting your “cool” uncle or aunt.
Ok back to answering the questions.
I was arguing with my girlfriend about this. What is a “hobby” exactly? I know plenty of people that list traveling as a hobby, but that can’t be quantified — for instance can you be “good” at traveling?
If we’re going with the idea that a hobby is just something that is NOT work, aka you’re not getting paid or at least it’s not your main source of income…then I have several.
I play guitar…have played since I was around 10 or so. But growing up my guitar heroes were shitty guitarists like Tom Delonge. He is awesome, but compared to the kids whose dads got them into Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) — I suck. I learned my power chords and basic pentatonic scales and was good enough to get by writing songs that sounded like the bands I listened to. And that was cool, until I realized I pretty much wasted my life being average (THIS IS FORESHADOWING).
SO — my hobby recently has been going back to the basics and teaching myself guitar, all over again. At least I have a head start, right? I do however, have great tone ;)
My other hobbies? I’m good at watching sports… mostly the sixers? (#TrustTheProcess)
Screw you if you don’t think that is a hobby. If some chick can put “traveling” in her Instagram bio as her hobby, I can put watching the Sixers.
Oh, and I am REALLY good at this.
Like I won’t go out on a Friday night to stay in and watch the game, or I’ll tell my girlfriend that I don’t feel well and I can’t go to her friends going away party, because i’m trying to watch f****in’ Embiid vs. Cousins.
Oh, and did I mention I like to travel?
What’re you most proud of?
I take pride in being average. I’ve been an average student, average athlete, average musician, and just about average at everything else. While most people will find this not to be a good thing, it’s allowed me to get through life being able to relate to just about everyone I met.
For instance: average musician? I can hang with the scene kids (Shark) (Editor’s Note: Shark is a friend of ours who John perceives as being a scene kid)
Average athlete? I can fit in with the jocks and not look like a total jackass.
Average brains? I can have a conversation with a “nerdy” guy, and they won’t judge me because I can speak their language!
One thing I’ve always put first is family tho — so the love I have for the people in my life is above average.
Where do you hang out?
South Philly. I really wanted to get people to start calling South Philly “SoPhi” because I think it sounds funny. This would be a good place to start that trend.
What would your ideal job/career be?
How am I supposed to answer this? Of course I would love to be a rock star or an Oscar nominated actor!
For real? I want to expand my family’s construction company — not just work there but grow it. That’s a goal of mine I hold to heart.
But I have always said I just want my name on IMDB at leastttttttt once.
What’s the best advice you would give?
F***. I just typed like 6 things and they all sounded cheesy.
And they all are things you’ve been told 100 times.
My best original advice?
Think about one friend or “hobby” or skill you gave up on. Reach out to them or pick up that hobby again.
Give it/them a second try and you may be surprised what happens.
What do you wish you did more of?
Learned how to cook things other than eggs, pastas and egg pastas.
Why didn’t you make Forbes 30 Under 30?
…still got 2 years. TWO YEARS AGO YOU WERE EATING A CAKE IN YOUR SLEEP QUIG! NOW YOU’RE ENGAGED. GOSHHHHHHHHHH.
Have Faith, TGYN. Have Faith. (Editor’s Note: In late 2011, more than 5 years ago, someone close to TGYN fell asleep while eating cake on John’s boat, where he was staying, after a night out in Miami. This appears to be what John is referencing.)
You can keep up with John here.
