INSP has been asking vendors from across the street paper network to write letters to their 25-year-old self to mark the end of INSP’s 25th anniversary year. Steve Zeuner has been a Straßenkreuzer vendor since 1997, and has been acting as a vendor representative for over 80 who work selling the street paper for three years. He sells the magazine in Nuremberg. Now 40-years-old, in his letter he reckons his 25-year-old self would be proud of who he has become.
Steve Zeuner
In 2004, I was 25-years-old. I had a more realistic picture of the world than I did at 18. I wasn’t as naive as I had been. Basically, you’re not a child anymore and you can’t behave like one when you’re a young adult. I already felt more comfortable in life than I did before.
My 25-year-old self would be fairly proud of who I am now. At that time, I didn’t have very high expectations for my future and what I wanted to achieve. As a 25-year-old, I also wouldn’t have guessed that I’d have so many responsibilities in the future, like I do in my position as a spokesperson for Straßenkreuzer vendors [at the street paper, vendors choose a representative to be their spokesperson every two years].
I’ve been selling Straßenkreuzer since I was 18. Therefore, at 25, I already thought that it was a really good thing, I had a really positive opinion about the organisation. But at that age, I wouldn’t have thought that working as a vendor in the future would have helped me this much.
25-year-olds should start to be realistic and move away from their childish naivety. Apart from that, it’s important to always be on the ball, always go to work. Also, they shouldn’t worry about improving themselves and being successful, they should be courageous in life and trust themselves.
Translated from German by Catherine Castling.
Check back in every day over the festive period for more #VendorLetters.
INSP members can download the #VendorLetters feature on the INSP News Service.