Would you believe that one of my favorite times of day is when the fine folks from facilities staff stop by to sanitize my door handle or collect my trash/recycling? It’s because that’s when I get to see Mark Fedolfi, or one of his minions, come in with a smile and share a few words about non-work related things. From watching their interactions, it’s clear to me that Mark is in a particularly unique position for teaching our students lessons outside of the classroom.
Over the course of the past 11 years we’ve been lucky enough to have Mark, he has worked with students in a variety of capacities. Whether they were assigned to complete custodial activities as a disciplinary measure or actively sought employment as work study students or fully employed coworkers, Mark has had lessons to share with them all. Mark is fully aware of his role as an educator. He says that “success is when people go on and better themselves after working with [him]; it shows that [he] did something right with them.”
When I asked him how he makes the interpersonal connections to reach the students to teach them he explained that he likes to think of himself as “a mediator. I talk a lot, get people to say things, and that gets you to a common place.” I think it may also have to do with his self-professed tendency to take on the less desirable jobs so that the students won’t have to. To me this clearly demonstrates that he doesn’t place himself above his (student) coworkers, they are all in this together. If pressed on it, Mark would simply point out that this is just the mark of a good supervisor.
Some of the lessons Mark says he imparts on the students are just what you might expect:
- Be punctual
- Honesty is important
- Respect the access you’ve been given to offices and observe confidentiality
- No matter the person’s job title, at the end of they day they’re just human beings (Yes, event the university president…)
- Put things in perspective: don’t let the little things get you down because a week from now they’re nothing
- Continue learning every day! If you stop thinking you have things to learn, you’re doing something wrong.
Some of the other lessons that Mark and his student coworkers told me about get a little more interesting. His coworkers provided the following additional lessons they’re taking with them when they graduate:
- He’s taught me what kind of trees the campus is populated with
- He’s taught me how to change the oil in my car and how to change the tires
- He’s helped me start a retirement account
- He’s helped me with taxes and billing information
- He’s taught me that you need to work for what you want, but make sure you’re having fun.
- Mark has taught me to be proud of who I am, where I’ve come from, and where I’m going. Not only has he taught me that, but he’s taught me how to live with what you’ve got, and to never feel stuck in a situation, as they always work out.
- Mark has taught me more than I ever thought I would going to college. Yes, college professors teach us on how to be educated, but Mark has taught me more skills and life lessons than any college professor that I have had.
- Disclaimer: Castleton has wonderful Professors, and I’m very appreciative for each one that I’ve had, as I’ve learned lots of amazing things from all of them.
- Mark is one of the most important and consistent people in my life, and I’ll never forget the things that he’s taught me.
When you really stop and think about it, we all have the capacity to teach our students our wisdom about the world outside of the classroom (and many of us probably have). For me the takeaway from this is that we need to remember that our students are constantly learning and that making the most of these mentoring opportunities is what enhances the richness of our students’ liberal arts education. Thank you Mark for reminding me of that particular life lesson!
