Everyday, Buena students pass through halls swept by people who have been on campus long before them. As we settle down at our desks and the halls go quiet, Buena’s behind the scenes heroes sit in school buses, pick up students’ trash from the grass and tables and keep our school functional and safe.
Many choose to return to Buena after graduating or even post-retirement, such as hall monitor, Rey Reyna. Students may recognize Reyna as a friendly face in the halls with his Santa-like white beard and brown hat. He monitors the lunch line, halls, and student activity to secure the safety and well-being of everyone on campus.
“I’ve worked since I was fifteen years old,” campus supervisor Reyna said, “I can’t stand being home. I’ve retired, but I have to get out, and I love being [at Buena] with the kids.”
Working directly with hundreds of teenagers everyday requires patience, assertion, and empathy. For Reyna, it’s easy to understand and help the teenagers he works with as he is reminded of his time in high school.
“I wasn’t the best kid,” Reyna said. “I know some of them have problems at home, and that they bring those problems to school,”
These jobs require not only emotional support and mental strength, but also physical labor. Head custodian, Mario Velez, has driven around campus to clean and monitor trash and damage to school property for six years. Velez’s job is not defined by solid lines, as he goes wherever he is needed, which can even include helping students with their locker combinations.
Velez specifically emphasized the importance of his “responsibilities to the school, the community, and the students,” who have inspired him to work hard here on campus for about six years.
“I help the students with all kinds of things, and I try to be as friendly as I can,” Velez said.
A lot of students take for granted the behind-the-scenes staff who dedicate their time and honest effort into making life even just a little better and more convenient for others. Acknowledging these unsung heroes can create a positive shift in the dynamic between students and campus workers.
Everyday as Buena students retire to their homes after a long day of schoolwork, custodians and bus drivers continue their work picking up after us, only to begin the cycle again the next morning. I would encourage every person at Buena to throw away your trash, say “Good morning” or “Thank you” and remember that while you might not choose to be at school, they do every day.
