‘I’m really proud of the work I do here’
BY: TYRA LEESMAN
Print Editor-in-chief
A tall African American man in a blue uniform pushes a large trash barrel on wheels through the Applied Science building every weekday afternoon. He smiles at students and faculty members. He stops for hugs, high-fives and conversations. If a student invites him at the right time, he’ll delve into a deep, philosophical conversation until his break is over. The label on his chest calls him Johnny.
Johnny Lee Harris is a 52 year old custodian for the Meramec campus. Oct. 2 will mark his first anniversary on the job.
“He’s a good person. He works hard, even if he gets talking for a bit. We communicate well. He always gets right back to it,” said Jesse Butler, a maintenance worker of more than 20 years at STLCC.
Harris has been in the custodial and maintenance business for nearly 30 years. He takes great pride in “getting the floors shiny” and impressing visitors. According to Harris, his favorite part of the job is hearing people exclaim how bright and clean the floors are.
“We provide a safe and clean environment for you [the students] to learn in. I think this is the best campus, cleanest, and I’m really proud of the work I do here,” said Harris.
The custodian said that he believes that this pride in his work is exactly what makes him good at his job. However, according to Harris, the job is sometimes an unattractive one.
“Last year for about a few months, we had a weird thing happen. About once a week, when we cleaned up the men’s restroom in [the Student Center], when we gathered all the trash into the big bags, there would be a filthy pair of underwear in there. Like, I think somebody had some bowel trouble. But it doesn’t bother us, we just put on our gloves and take care of it,” said Harris.
According to both Butler and Harris, the community college is good to its employees. The pay is high, even starting out, and the hours are reasonable, he said. Full-time perks are a big plus for some workers, said Harris.
Full-time staff are offered a free education through the campus. Harris said he will attend classes in addition to working his full time hours, beginning in October. His focus will be on getting his maintenance certification, as he hopes to join the ranks of the (higher-paid) maintenance staff soon.
“In 10 years, I want to be retired. I’m not kidding. These guys are leaving here with good money and stock options. They’re living the life, and I want that. My mother worked until she was 71 and came down with pancreatic cancer. I won’t do that to my body. I’m going to work hard now and then travel the world. I want to see the Ivory Coast – the home of my ancestors,” said Harris, dreaming of the opportunities he is creating for himself.
Harris said he appreciates how much students and faculty interact and support the staff. He feels that he is rarely looked down upon, and feels like a welcome member of the Meramec family. His only advice to students, faculty and visitors, spoken in a playful tone: Stop trashing the restrooms so much.
Photo by Syed Ali
