Pocket Full of Sunshine

Not much can brighten up a dreary Exonian attending classes at eight in the morning, but for those in Lamont, Amen and Hoyt, the warm, cheery “hello” of custodian Dana Lang does just that.Seeking a change in her life with more youth and laughter, Lang joined the Academy as a custodian in May, 2004. Since then, she has become an essential element of dorm life, a friend for many Exonians, and a spirit that can make anyone’s day jolly. Lang sings classic songs when sauntering down the halls, comforts students about bad hair days and even leaves sheets of paper with 30 words to live by on every floor.“Not only does Dana do an amazing job keeping Hoyt clean, but she is also one of the most friendly and kind people I know. She is genuinely interested in our lives and loves making small talk,” senior Zoey Payne, a resident of Hoyt Hall, said. “She is ambitious, kind, thoughtful and curious which are all qualities that make up a good person.”Lang can serenade students away from their daily concerns.“With her voice, she takes you away from your world of worries, be it through her friendly chattering or through singing her end- less numbers of happy, happy songs,” upper Margaret Zhu said.Lang’s radiating presence in the dorm is evident at first glance to almost anyone.“Dana has always been a positive addition in my life here at Hoyt. She always has a smile on her face whenever I see her and always has such a positive outlook on things,” upper Muyunji Tembo said. “What makes her special is that she cares about everyone in Hoyt as if we were her own sister and always sees the best in us.”Kindness is not the only quality that defines Lang, as her friendly demeanor and willingness to help are always requested by students seeking guidance or a fun chat.“My favorite part about her is that she’s never shy. She’s always willing to talk to people,” lower Vennela Vellanki said. “Around her it's hard to feel awkward. She has the ability to make people engage in a conversation, and feel comfortable. She’s just such a nice person to talk to if something is bothering you. The best part is that she listens to everything you say carefully and tries hard to give you advice.”Although students may take it for granted, Lang’s liveliness and altruism developed from her unfavorable past and various events in her life.Zhu said, “In her youth, she endured a world of pain and suffering—her home envi- ronment wasn't the best. But now she harbors no ill will and instead made it her life mission to spread love and joy around. In her small ways, she has already touched me.”It’s not easy to maintain her cheery smile day in and day out, but Lang loves her job at Exeter for many reasons. Since the hours are unwavering, she has plenty of time to pursue passions that have been present since a young age.“With set hours, I can do more things after work such as spend time with my two grandchildren, volunteer and spend time on my small working farm,” Lang said. “I have a few horses on the farm, because I grew up with my horses, my children grew up with horses and now my grandchildren are growing up with horses. They teach you discipline and give you another thing to love.”She continued, noting her love for explor- ing the world and her plans for the summer."Another passion of mine is travelling. This year I plan to visit Tennessee, Pennsyl- vania and Ottawa, Canada. Furthermore, work can be hectic, coming in and out. But we cover for each other and it always works.”But the most enjoyable part of the job for Lang is interacting with Exonians in the dorm. “My favorite part about working at Exeter is definitely the kids,” Lang said. “The students of Exeter make the job enjoyable: the diversity, the politeness and the youth. Talking to them in the dorms is always fun and getting to know them is even better. All the kids here are so nice and polite, and they’re all very different and unique in their own way.”Lang continued. “It is truly amazing to watch them develop and mature from preps to seniors. Graduation day is sad, but I know that these kids, wherever they’re going, are prepared and ready. I always wonder where they’re going to go and what they’re going to do in their future life.”In the end, it seems seniors will miss Dana just as much as she will miss them.“She is one of the kindest people I know here at Exeter, and I will miss hearing her sing- ing in the halls when I graduate this spring,” Payne said.Tembo echoed Payne’s sentiments. “She's so compassionate and caring, and I'm honored to have had the privilege to have her in my life.”