This writing is dedicated to my mother. She is one of the hardest working people I know, and she has been my biggest role model throughout my life. My mom is persistent, caring, kind and- most of all- she cares about her job. My mom, April Dawn Morrison, is a custodian in the Salida school. She is a night custodian, so while everyone gets out of school and ends their day, my mom’s day is just starting. 

I know that my mom’s job is really important for our schools because without her, or any of the other custodians, then our schools would not get cleaned. The only thing is, I feel bad for my mom. She works so hard and is hardly seen or appreciated, just like the rest of the staff that’s not teachers. Because of my mother’s job, I don’t get to spend time with her as much as I used to; for example, doing my homework with her or making dinner together. Most of all the biggest part that I know is hard for my mom is working until around three or four in the morning at least five out of the seven days of the week.

When my mom started working for the school district, she started at Longfellow Elementary School. She really enjoyed the job at first and had no problem with it and all the teachers were so happy that the rooms were finally getting cleaned. I remember helping my mom for two weeks because I got suspended, and the first night was great. I was moving quickly and having such a great time getting to spend it with my mom. But by the end of the night, I could tell that the job was so exhausting for my mom, but being the strong woman she is, my mom kept pushing through. I realized by the end of the two weeks how hard and exhausting her job is not only physically but mentally. That’s when I stopped complaining about doing the dishes or sweeping the floors because it was nothing compared to what she was doing all night for the kids and adults in this town. 

That was two years ago, and my mom still is working for the school district. Unfortunately, she has switched through multiple schools in the district and is now at the Early Childhood Center next to the middle school. Before she switched, she was the day janitor at the middle school during my 8th grade year. Once I got into high school, my mom really didn’t want to be at the middle school because the middle schoolers were so disrespectful and rude about cleaning up after themselves, or they would write on the walls and not separate the compost. She told me one day “it’s so hard to want to clean up after them when the only kids that are respectful are my own.” I could see just how tired my mom was. I could see how badly she wanted to switch, and I’m glad she did. My mom happily cleans up after everyone and enjoys her job as long as others consider what she has to do all night five times a week. 

I am glad that I was raised by the strong independent women I call mom. She raised me and my two siblings all on her own and still managed to push through everyday. Without her, I wouldn’t  be the caring, smart, outgoing person I am today. I hope all the teens reading this can just be happy for the parents you have. They are the only ones you got, and they need you as much as we need them.