El 107 Magazine Volume 1.2 | January 2018 | Page 10

IT’S A
HARD-KNOCK
LIFE...
FOR THEM
Monica Turner
Gabriel
Euge Rodriguez
Joaquin
Have you ever wondered what life would be like at ASFM without our dedicat-
ed maintenance staff? They clean our cafeteria tables, sweep the floors and
unclog our bathrooms, but many students can’t recall the name of even one.
Are we blind to the sacrifices they make and the struggles they face both
inside and outside our walls? It is important to recognize the sacrifices they
make to work for us, the lives they maintain, and the struggles they constantly
face both inside and outside of school in order to truly value their indispens-
able presence.
5:00-5:30:
Prior to sunrise, whilst the city is mute, Jose Luis, Misael, and Elo’s day kicks off. At this early hour,
they carry out their morning routines; including showering, eating breakfast, and preparing
themselves and their children for their respective tasks at school.
6:00:
21 kilometers away from school grounds, shortly after his day commenced, Misael departs from
his home in Villa Juarez in the same manner as he has done for the past 17 years. “I leave this
early because that way I can skip the traffic,” he says. He takes his oldest son to his high school
before coming to ASFM to work, hoping that one day he, and his other two brothers, will
succeed.
6:30:
For 12 pesos a ride, Elo and Jose Luis take their corresponding buses half and hour before their
shift begins. For less than a peso per minute, they arrive at school at around 6:45.
7:00:
At 7 o’clock, while the majority of ASFM’s student population is just waking up, Jose Luis and Elo
begin to undertake their varied tasks.
7:00-15:00:
Cleaning Huasteca’s hallways, bathrooms, and classrooms is what Jose Luis’s daily labor routine
consists of. Elo works in cleaning the upstairs floors, classrooms, and bathrooms (she usually is
near the A wing, remember to say “Hello!”).
8:00:
Misael begins to work on the multiple and differing tasks he performs on a daily basis. “My work
is very diverse,” remarked Misael. “Here there are people in charge of the air conditioning, of
electricity, plumbing. I like a little bit of everything so sometimes I work with each of them,” he
added.
23.8%
12:00-12:30:
For half an hour, Elo, Jose Luis, and the rest of the cleaning staff get to eat the food they bring from
their houses in the area behind the D-Wing basketball courts while chatting amicably with each
other.
4.8%
71.4%
12:30-13:30:
For an hour a day, Misael socializes with his coworkers. Whether it’s eating together, or having
ping-pong matches, “there is always fraternity between everyone and a beautiful atmosphere of
fellowship.”
15:00-15:20:
Work at ASFM ends for Elo and Jose Luis, who take the bus once again and head home. For Elo,
activity doesn’t stop. “I take care of the chores at home, I cook and clean,” she commented. On
the other hand, José Luis rests once he gets home.
Cannot Name a Maintenance Staff Member
17:00:
Almost two hours after the bell rings putting an end to the school day, Misael’s shift finalizes. He
returns home, and if the opportunity presents itself, he does small jobs to generate more income.
Can Name One Maintenance Staff Member
21:00-22:00:
After a long day at work, Elo, Jose Luis, and Misael go to sleep to hours later repeat an ordinary
day in their lives.
Can Name Four Maintenance Staff Member