When we see our everyday lives and systems playing before us smoothly, we often get used to how things are run, failing to appreciate the unsung heroes who diligently work to keep them that way. In order to appreciate their tireless efforts and gain an insight into their perspective we set about the task to interview a few of these hard-working individuals around campus.
I had the pleasure to talk to Junaid, one of the guards at our in-gate, who most of us probably interact with on a daily basis. Junaid, who is from Sargodha, has spent the last 16 years working at LUMS. He chuckled at the astonished look on my face as I expressed my surprise on this long tenure, commenting on the fact that he had witnessed much change at LUMS. Every year, he stated, brings along a fresh batch of students, and every year he learns something new from them. When I asked if it ever angered him when students often argue at the gate, he merely smiled, saying “They’re children, what’s there to be angry for.”
When asked if he had any advice for the students, he took a while to respond
“Take care of your parents.”
He emphasized on the effort parents make in order to grant their children education, and his one advice was to honor that effort and do them proud.
Farooq Arshad, the cashier at PDC , has been working there for the past 12 years. Starting his work here in 2005, he reminisced about how he’s seen students grow up, graduate and even go off to teach at other universities. He spoke fondly of them, saying he’s still in contact with many of them. Commenting on how there’s something different about the students at LUMS, he said his time spent here has been nothing short of memorable. When asked if he had any advice to offer to the students he shrugged saying “Children make mistakes and learn at their own pace. Making mistakes is necessary.”
I was hit by how the man before me had seen a decade of students such as ourselves, with dreams and ambitions akin to ours, go on in life to be either met with success and failure. When insisted to offer some wisdom he finally said to achieve prosperity one must be able to have control over their words and emotions. Our words are a reflection of our personality and if one can control his tongue he can handle ever situation aptly.
Asif, works at the PDC, we had to convince to get a few words from, as he was hesitant about wasting time while on duty. A father of three children, he also works by night as a tailor in order to meet ends and provide his children an education. I was taken aback by his dedication towards his children’s education as he further explained how he also sends his kids to an academy, wanting nothing but for them to prosper in life. About his interaction with the students, he appreciatively told us how several students always make an effort to personally greet him. When we asked him about how students often create a mess, leaving their trays at the tables, he did agree it would be helpful if they didn’t but stated that he was here to work and would assist them in any way. Our next stop in interviewing was Zahida, one of the diligent workers at the bathrooms. Despite it being a late hour, and her obviously being exhausted by her strenuous duties she greeted me with a warm smile. She remarked that the students she sees here are hardworking and hopes that one day her own children will be able to study like them. When asked to offer advice she spoke with genuine concern, saying that despite it being an age at which they are naturally reckless, students should try their best to stay away from harm and not indulge in anything that they would later regret.
These individuals, with their persistent efforts and tedious jobs, ensure that life at LUMS carries on without a hitch. In addition to their standard job requirements, they also deal with the unnecessary tasks that we as students often burden them with. Despite this, they had nothing but genuine concern and warm words to offer. On our part we should try to make their jobs easier, be it by cleaning up after ourselves at PDC, not littering at the khokha or simply by offering a smile or word of thanks. They not only deserve our basic courtesy but our appreciation and utmost respect.
Mariam Nasir
Class of 2021