A local source of motivation

As a college student, some days are more trying than others. One single day can frequently deliver a whole week’s worth of academic and personal struggles. On such occasions, we must bear down and find the motivation to keep our heads up.

I recently discovered a powerful source of such inspiration.

A few weeks ago, after I had been kicked out of the Education Library at closing time, I was finishing up some work in a nearby lounge before heading home.It was just after 10 p.m., and I was reveling in my own perseverance, when a group of uniformed individuals started to invade my workspace. These people were members of the IU support staff. I wasn’t too bothered, as I knew the building was closing and was just finishing my last homework problem.

As I was packing up, I asked one gentleman how late into the evening he would be working.

“We’ll be here until 7 a.m.,” he said.

I was stunned.

All night long while I slept, these people would be cleaning and preparing the building so that the students and faculty could all have a pleasant working environment the following day.

Furthermore, this gentleman did not have even a hint of bitterness in his voice, but instead added, “Make sure you keep working hard so you don’t have to do this job someday.”

This outlook is much removed from the latent resentment that I assumed such workers to have for the often careless and pretentious students such as myself.

I have always tried to show my respect to the support staff around campus with a quick nod or smile. Although it may be polite, such a passing gesture does little to convey my genuine appreciation.

How could one not be humbled by the thought that thousands of individuals are working hard just to maintain the school at which he or she studies?

Perhaps some capitalistically minded individual might argue that he doesn’t owe anyone anything, because he is paying for his education and the workers are earning money for their trouble. The “invisible hand” of capitalism works well at the economic roots of this country, but it says nothing about how we should treat each other.

The most valuable currency in this world is respect. As the “richest” nation in the world, shouldn’t we have an overabundance of this currency?

If our support staff can pride themselves in working at a University that is educating the potential leaders of our society, then we must honor their efforts with our own. This does not require any “full measure of devotion,” but it does call for the widening of your ambitions to more than the sole pursuit of financial security. My appeal to this connection between opportunity and responsibility is by no means a new idea: “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”

I have neither the authority nor the wisdom to consider how much compensation is deserved by the support staff for their work. However, it is my place to say, “thank you.”Not only do your efforts directly support this University, but they help at least one student to hold his head up throughout the mental and personal challenges that he has taken upon himself.


E-mail: tylatkin@indiana.edu