With all the craziness going on now in Wooster ó the ice storm, Independent Study and pledging for many fraternities and sororities ó it can be quite easy to overlook the people. I’ve been guilty of it, too. The time has come, though, to finally write a few words of gratitude for some of those under-appreciated, hard-working people at The College of Wooster.
While I wish I could write a several page article detailing the significant number of people who have changed my life since I moved into Bornhuetter almost two and a half years ago, I have to limit it to two people specifically right now. So, with all due respect to the entire staff and crew at Wooster (all of whom work so hard), I want to specifically thank Joyce and Carolyn Hall.
Joyce has an incredibly warm smile and works at Lowry dining hall’s card-swiping station. She used to draw detailed, pun-filled cartoons every day, either describing the meal of the day or the animal kingdom. She now wears them as earrings, since she no longer has the corkboard where she can hang up the drawings. Her Friday cheek-pinches used to be a staple of my week and the main reason why I went to Kitteredge throughout my first year at Wooster.
Carolyn is a member of the custodial staff and throughout most of last semester, she used to talk to many of my housemates, not only giving us advice, but just chatting, telling us about her day either here or at “Wally World,” where she also works.
By the end of the whirlwind semester, my housemates and I were close enough with Carolyn that when we moved out of the house, we felt like we were losing another housemate.
I haven’t always treated these people the way they deserve.† Some days, for whatever reason, I don’t smile and say hi to Joyce as I pass through Lowry.† As I moved out of Avery house, I mindlessly left tons of stuff, creating extra work for Carolyn.† I feel incredibly guilty about that. For that, I’m sorry.
Moving to college can be jarring for lots of people.† Parents are gone, and everything is your own responsibility.† At Wooster, where I’m far away from family, Carolyn and Joyce make me feel right at home.