Custodian = Thread

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Our recent poll asked what people thought a custodian's job is like. 100% answered "hard".

Having worked in the cleaning field for over 30 years and having been a custodian for 15, I can attest to that answer. I'm not saying it is overwhelmingly difficult and demanding like some jobs, but it is very physical and at times challenging. A custodian may be called upon to carry ladders, heavy mop buckets, machines, tables, boxes and other large items which can test their physical strength. Plus, dealing with people within the building, whether the public, staff, students or others, can definitely be a challenge when situations arise that require finesse and diplomacy in solving certain situations.

A custodian may wear multiple hats too. Cleaner, painter, maintenance worker, chemical engineer, building technician, HVAC personnel, administrator, delegater, facility coordinator, banquet/meeting organizer, delivery person and more. And when it comes to jobs that no one else seems to know what to do with, guess who it is relegated to? The custodians!

Being a custodian can be satisfying though. Realizing that you keep things running behind the scenes and make things work without most people knowing about it can be exciting and pleasing. You're the one who makes it all come together. I guess you could say a custodian is the thread that holds all the pieces together and makes for a pleasant whole for others to appreciate. Hard? Yes. Satisfying? Yes.

To all you custodians out there I say "Thank You!" and keep up the hard work.