Students and Staff Members Form Relationships in the Exeter Bubble

Students interact with instructors every day, but many rarely notice how often they interact as well with dining hall staff, dorm custodians and Grill workers. Through these interactions, students form relationships with the employees. These range from casual acquaintances to friendships.

Liddy Ambler, a senior in Wheelwright, became friends with her dorm’s custodian, Beverly Lord, and talks with her frequently throughout the week. “Bev is always there to ask about my day and to make me laugh with her anecdotes,” she said.

Ambler explained that having the dorm’s custodian as a friend makes Wheelwright feel more like a home, and that “it’s really nice to regularly talk to someone who has a life outside of campus.” Ambler also believes that relationships with custodians push students to take more responsibility. “When you care about the person cleaning up after other people, you realize the importance of taking care of your own messes,” she said.

Lower Kristina Torres echoed Ambler’s comments about her custodian, now knowing Lord more personally than just an employee. “I see Bev more as a friend. I probably talk to Bev more than I talk to some girls in my dorm.” Torres and Lord share a warm relationship, regularly asking how the other is doing. Lord remembers if Torres has a test or a particularly stressful week and offers sympathy and a helping hand.

Torres evaluated her relationship with Lord and explained the importance of having friendships with members of the community. “I feel like having a relationship with custodians makes you feel a lot more appreciative of the things you have. I know that people at Exeter are often ungrateful for all of the people caring for us...I love Bev. ”

“I feel like having a relationship with custodians makes you feel a lot more appreciative of the things you have. I know that people at Exeter are often ungrateful for all of the people caring for us...I love Bev. ”

Students consider custodians integral members of the community or more simply, friends. Kenny Torres-Navarro, a custodian in Ewald, is very close with many of the students in the dorm. He has found that there is a silent and understood respect. In his six years at the Academy, he can’t recall a negative interaction with a student in all the different dorms he has worked in.

The students play a big role in Torres-Navarro’s life and his job at the school. “They remind me of when I was a kid, having fun and talking and joking. There’s respect between me and the kids. If it wasn’t for the guys in Ewald, I probably wouldn’t be here right now. I love the guys, we have a good relationship,” Torres-Navarro said.

Not all custodians have the type of relationship Torres-Navarro does with Ewald, however. Some find relationships with students to be a less integral part of their job. “A lot of custodians are different from me. They have a different mind and different issues than me. They care about doing the job,” he said.

Custodians are well liked around campus just as the Grill and dining hall employees are.

After working at Exeter for almost eight years, Wetherell worker Rose Compagna has formed friendships with students as they go through their years here. She is a mother figure for many students on campus and is often seen making tea or giving hugs if a student is feeling down.

“I’m there for students unconditionally and when I see them I ask them about their day, what project is going on, any positive input about whatever they’re stressed about,” Compagna said. “The spirit is contagious… You definitely receive what you give.”

Compagna’s bond with students lasts past their years at Exeter. “It’s bittersweet when students leave because I do get attached, but they always leave imprints on my heart, and I hope I do the same. I also stay in contact with students who have graduated and they often come back to see me,” Compagna said. 

Beyond her work, Compagna also wants to become as involved as possible on campus. She started going to assemblies, and plans to go to more concerts and plays.

“Whatever is going on, I’d like to be part of it, not just in dining hall, but on campus.”

Bertha Cassatt, a worker in Elm, shares similar relationships with students.

“I’m a chatterbox so I like to talk to everybody and make everybody happy in here. I form friendships by just talking to people, getting to know them, where they're from. I try to make them feel comfortable after a long day.”

As well as building friendships, Cassatt enjoys the treatment she receives from students.

“I like the respect as well, so I try to respect them as well as having them respect me,” Cassatt said. To many, having a workplace surrounded by teenagers might be intimidating, but Cassatt felt differently. “This is my calling. I like this type of environment. I can associate well with the kids here and I enjoy being there for them whenever they need me,” Cassatt said.

Grill employee Devin Riley treats students in a slightly different way than Cassatt and Compagna. He is friendly and polite, but acknowledges that he is there to work.

“I just try to keep it business, just basic helping out. Whatever you guys need, we are here to help you out. I’m friendly but I try to keep it business, that’s what I’m here for,” Riley said, “I’m here to get paid and do my job.” Although he doesn’t have close friendships with students, Riley commented that he considered most students generally friendly.

Many employees feel similarly to Riley. They believe that the job is more important than friendships with students. Jennifer Prophet, another Wetherall employee, explained how she “doesn’t have friendships with any of the students.” Similar to Riley, she still feels that, “they treat the employees that work here well.”

Grill employee Wesley L’italien explained how outside the job, he had no interactions with students. Although they are pleasant and he enjoys helping out, he acknowledged the importance of being professional.

While respecting professional boundaries, a majority of the employees agreed that students are kind and respectful. Jayne Browne, a new grill employee, expressed how impressed she was with how polite students are.

“Working the register, you see them help a friend when they are short on money or forgot their card,” she said. “I’ve just been so impressed.”

It’s this kind of impression and kindness from students that led Browne to say, “people come through doing the tours and I tell them, your children are going to love it here. They’re just amazing gentlemen and gentlewomen.”