It’s a Hard-Knock Life… for Them

Have you ever wondered what life would be like at ASFM without our dedicated 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 indispensable presence.

A day in the life of Elo, Misael, and José Luis

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Elo:

Job: Cleaning the upstairs hallways, classrooms, and bathrooms

Years at asfm: 3 ½ years

Family: Lives with her aunt, who is taking care of her husband because he is very sick. The only family she has here in Monterrey is them. She has 14 siblings, but 8 of them are working in the United States and Elo barely remembers them, they left when she was very young. The other part of her family is living in Guatemala, she sees them about 1 or 2 times a year.   

Life Goal: After a lifetime of being disconnected, Elo wishes to be reunited with her whole family once again.

Quote: “Algo que me cuesta mucho es que tapen los baños. Cuando se tapa se inunda todo el baño y tenemos los zapatos mojados todo el día.”
 

Jose Luis:

Job: Cleaning the upstairs hallways, classrooms, and bathrooms

Years at ASFM: 17 years

Family: Hijos y esposa

Life Goal: Between laughs, Jose Luis said that he wishes to get a better pay.

Quote:“Falta más disciplina en donde va la basura. Los basureros tienen colores y cada color significa diferente tipo de material. Revuelven todo, hace poco tuve un accidente por lo mismo porque había un vidrio en donde no debería. Me cocieron ya que estaba un material fuera de lugar. En una cosa que podríamos mejorar es que abajo en los baños hay botes de basura, y acá arriba no y eso provoca que se inunden los baños.”

Misael:

Job: “Milusos:” He works in almost all branches of the maintenance such as air conditioning, electricity, plumbing, and more. He also works with students in events and in Planilla Week.

Years at ASFM: 17 years

Family: “I live with my wife and three kids.” The smallest is six years old; the oldest is called Misael and is about to graduate from high school, he studies at night. The one in the middle is called Abraham and is about to enter high school.

Life Goal: “See my kids succeed.” As a dad, that is what he is working for so hardly. He dreams of them having a very successful future and he has always motivated them to do their best.

Quote: “Ustedes me dan mucha motivación porque son bien dinámicos, tienen chispa y andan haciendo muchas cosas y pienso que así están mis hijos también en sus escuelas…. Los veo en Techo y así en cosas trabajando. Me da mucho orgullo que son parte de nuestra comunidad.”

Misael, Elo, and Jose Luis’s devotedness and critical jobs in fostering a clean and healthy campus are often unperceived and unappreciated. These heroes without capes, whose behind the scenes travails are belittled by our busy school lives, should receive far greater appreciation by all of us. Don’t be afraid to smile, greet, and have a conversation when you see any of them working on campus, it will surely make their day, just as they always make yours.