It is no secret that the office ladies of Elder high school keep this school up and running.  They are here every morning, rain, shine or snow, they are here ready to take or make calls regarding the school.  They have to deal with the excuses on why kids aren’t showing up or leaving early.  Without them, this school would be falling apart.  So how do they do it? The answer is simple: They have helpers.

A group of young Elder men, are chosen to help the office ladies, forming what is nothing less than a Fraternity.  Some might ask, “How are the Elder office workers like a fraternity?” and my response would be that the office workers have a lot of fun doing what they do.  What exactly might that be? Well, read on to find out the exciting details of this historic position!

I have been lucky enough to be a 2-year veteran as an office worker.  Sitting at the desk of the main doors is nothing short of an honor.  As you sit there in the historic main lobby, all you can think about are the men (and women for a few years) that roamed the halls before us.  But what catches my attention most is the thought of who were the office workers before me?  In my opinion, being an office worker is like being in a Frat.  We have a unique way of operating.  Have fun and get your stuff done.

As an office worker, your days can have a lot to do or nothing at all, just depends on the day.  Whatever the office ladies need help with, you’re the first person they call.

But before you can help in the office each day, first things first is that you have to run the notes the guidance department has ready for kids all throughout the school.  It isn’t as easy as it sounds.  You could be running notes from the 3^rd floor all the way to room S135 (which is in the library for the people who don’t know).

After all the notes have been delivered, now it is time to see what the lovely office ladies (Mrs. Conway, Mrs. Timon, and Mrs. Hirth) need help with.  It could be something like stapling packets together, going to get more paper, or even filing up their waters because they are thirsty. Then there are days where they don’t have anything going on, so you just have a study hall, but at any time you have to expect the unexpected which would be a loud tap on the window behind your head signalling it is time to do some work.

I got to talk with fellow senior and office worker Michael Wauligman about his feeling of being an office worker and he said, “It really is an honor.  The best part is walking in there and knowing I’m helping the school.”

That’s the truth, Michael.   But there’s no one who helps the school more than those ladies so I asked them what their favorite part of having office workers is and they all said, “Getting to know the kids.”

If you want to be an office worker you need to be prepared for a lot of questions, especially from Mrs. Timon.  Her questions are deep.  She’ll ask you about sports and college and yes, she will even ask about the uncomfortable topic of girls.  Both times I’ve worked in the office it’s been in the second semester so, of course, prom is during that time.  I remember being flooded with questions from Mrs. Timon.  It’s tough answering on the spot, but it shows she cares.

That’s the thing about working in the office, it feels like home.  Those ladies are something special.  That’s why I begged to be in the office for a second year.  I wanted to be in there.  I NEEDED to be in there.

The ladies that work in that office are the epitome of what Elder is all about: the people.  They chose to do that job, and it is not an easy one. But you won’t hear them complain.  They keep their heads down (especially in pictures) and just do their thing.

If you are reading this article, do me a favor and stop in the office and say “Good morning” to them.  It will truly make their day.

Gallery • 4 Photos

provided by Michael Bittner '19

Yours truly sitting at the front desk