Every morning in the Main Cafeteria, with a beep on the machine and a “Have a good day!”, Tricia Gomes helps prepare breakfasts and inputs students’ IDs into the register. Tricia is a smiling face most students engage with daily, yet only a few know the name of. As the Register Forum sits down for a conversation to get to Tricia a little better, it’s imperative we never overlook the workers, such as the often ignored kitchen staff, who are integral to running CRLS.
Register Forum (RF): How long have you been working at CRLS?
Tricia Gomes (TG): 24 years.
RF: Did you grow up in Cambridge?
TG: Yes! Born and raised!
RF: What’s your favorite part about working here?
TG: My co-workers and students. It’s comfortable, you know?
RF: What is the hardest part?
TG: The hardest part, I’ll tell you, is in the summer when we have to clean everything. We have to do the ovens and the refrigerators — it’s just a lot of cleanup at the end of the year. That’s the part that hits me. Other than that, it’s pretty good!
RF: What’s something you like to do for fun in your free time?
TG: I like spending time with my grandkids. I’m mostly a laid back type of person, but I do like to go bowling and to movies, stuff like that. Simple things.
RF: What’s something you wish the students or teachers knew about you and your job?
TG: It’s a lot of work, you know? It’s a lot of time and patience, but we get it done!
The next time you see Tricia Gomes, don’t shy away from a conversation and be sure to thank her for all the work she does. You never know how many wonderful people you may meet by giving an extra second to those in your daily routine.
This article also appears in our December 2023 print edition.
