A hard day’s Night
Editor’s note: This is the second story in a weekly series chronicling a day in the life of unsung members of the CMU community.
Shannon Root’s fondest — and oddest — story about her job was when a sandwich was thrown at her.
A customer, dressed like a business man, became angry after he discovered mayonnaise coating his mayo-free Jimmy Johns sandwich and hurled the sub back at the Redford senior, screaming a curse-filled response.
“I don’t have (expletive) time for this,” he yelled.
Root is one of many students who have to balance a full class load and a part-time job off campus to survive an expensive college life. But for Root, she also juggles volunteer work.
After class and volunteering, she spends some nights making sandwiches at Jimmy Johns, 1901 South Mission St., where she has worked for two and a half years.
“I’d never even heard of Jimmy Johns before I came here (to CMU),” Root said.
But working isn’t the only thing on Root’s schedule.
Her Thursday began at 9:30 a.m. when she stepped sleepily into the shower and ate Chex cereal to wake herself before rushing off to her first and only class of the day — Physical Disabilities.
After class ended at 11 a.m., she made her way from Finch Fieldhouse to a computer lab, where she attempted to put a dent in her school work.
She decided to reward herself with some food and a nap before heading to work at 4 p.m.
Root said she uses her time after work to get her homework done, but from time to time it isn’t enough. Sometimes, Root said, she stays up until 4 a.m. just trying to catch up on her studies.
“It’s hard not having time to study and finish school work, but then again — it’s impossible to not have a job,” Root said.
Root closes the store every other Sunday, usually not leaving until after 4 a.m. Monday morning. She said her 11 a.m. class seven hours later comes quickly after her long night and leaves her feeling exhausted.
“It takes a toll on you,” she said.
On average, Root said she works about 20 to 25 hours during a five-day week.
But Root said she keeps a positive attitude, enjoying the company of her fellow co-workers she has known for more than two years and the drunk customers that stumble in late at night.
“I kind of love my job,” Root said. “I like the people I work with a lot — I feel like we’ve all grown up together.”
St. John’s senior Matt Dedyne is one of Root’s co-workers and has been working with her since her first day on the job.
He said she is someone with a great sense of humor who is really outgoing and is able to laugh at almost anything.
“I remember when I first started working with her (Root), and we were tailgating,” Dedyne said. “She had a little too much to drink, and she broke her leg and had to wear crutches to work. She just laughed about it.”
Root said by taking orders, making deliveries and listening to customer complaints, she has learned a lot more about people and has obtained better communication skills.
“I have learned how to listen to people’s problems and not overreact,” she said.
Root’s boss, general manager Pat Clark, said she is a lot of fun to be around.
“She is extremely witty and one of the more fun people around here,” Clark said.
Though she is very busy, Root said she could never see herself without a job while in school and believes it will benefit her in the longrun.
“I think working and school and having to do volunteer work has made me more of an organized person, and it will help me when I get out of college,” she said.
In her spare time, Root is involved in the Student Recreation Association, a registered student organization that meets every Monday.
