When you first leave for college, it’s scary, this is kind of a no brainer statement but necessary all the same. You’re on your own for the very first time and chances are, you really don’t know anyone. Your mom’s not there to ask you about your day, give you advice, or to simply remind you that, no, an entire role of Chips Ahoy is not dinner.
This is where one of the most important people on your campus comes into play: your lunch-lady. Some people go into their college search looking at the Presidents credentials, but what they should really be looking for is how their dining hall ladies interact with the students on campus, because you see, even with the best, most personable college presidents (i.e. LEC’s: shout out to you President Posler), you’re still going to see and interact a thousand times more with the women (and men) who work in the dining hall.
It’s as simple as them asking ‘How’s your day?’ when you walk in or remembering your name even though there are hundreds of other students in and out all day. If you’re having a bad day, they’ll let you talk it out to them and give you their wisdom from many years of seeing many a student just like you walk through those dining hall doors. They’ll sit and talk with you if you’re eating alone and get you the Hershey’s chocolate syrup you like when you’re feeling down. Our lunch ladies have even gone as far as to bring students soup when they’re sick.
My point is, while the food may not always be perfect, the company is. Maybe it’s just how my parents raised me, to treat the cook and the king the same, if not better; but I think with how much care and attention they show their students, they deserve a big thank-you. I can honestly say that my college experience would not have been the same without the lovely Metz ladies.
So while I know us students may not always remember to push in our chairs, say please and thank you, and remember that no, ice cream is not dinner, know that we appreciate you and all you do for us, from suggesting the slightly odd broccoli salad to asking us how our day is and letting us vent our problems to you to reminding us to maybe have some salad with our ice cream, we appreciate it all and we truly do love you. A big thank-you to Micky, Sally, Abbi, Kathleen, Tabitha and everyone else; LEC wouldn’t be LEC without you, and I hope you know that.
