“Eewww, the trash man!”

As I was doing one of my trash runs at work, this was what a little boy said as he was eating with his family.

It may have taken me a long while, but I’ve finally reached that point where I’m proud of my role here at Disney. When I initially applied for the DCP, my top choices included: Photopass, Character Attendant, Merchandise, and Quick Service Food & Beverage. So yeah, I was pretty disappointed when I was assigned Custodial. It’s not exactly a glamorous role here compared to the dozens of other, more appealing, roles at Disney World. But I took the job because I knew it’d be a once in a lifetime experience, and I just couldn’t pass that up; also, several friends who’ve done the program before have told me that people loved being in custodial. But once I arrived in Orlando, and was finally given my work location (Boardwalk Resort), I got sad all over again because I was so disappointed that I wouldn’t be working at the parks. I figured, “Hey, I may be custodial, but at least I’ll be having fun working at the parks every day!” But nope. I’m at a resort.

For the first few weeks, I absolutely hated my job. I dreaded going to work every day. I hated cleaning toilets, benches, tables, signs, walls, etc. I hated picking up trash, cigarette butts, used towels. I hated the fact that there were barely any other CP’s (College Programmers) working at my location. Everyone was pretty much a full-timer or part-timer. I didn’t get to make friends as easily as other CP’s who had tons of fellow CP co-workers at their location. Every time I went to work, I just counted down the hours until I could leave it.

I acted like a spoiled brat.

Eventually, I learned to like my job - or at least tolerate it. I got to know my co-workers and actually befriended many of them, despite the fact that they’re decades older than I am, and many from different countries. I started talking more to the only other CP who started at the same time I did. When I went to work, I actually had started to have fun (usually if I was paired up with a co-worker I liked, which was most of the time). There are two kinds of shifts where I worked: shifts where you’re on your own, and shifts where you’re working the entire time with a partner. I loved working when I was partnered up with someone because not only did the time pass by quicker, but I usually had more fun.

I started to realize being a resort custodian wasn’t too bad. I had better hours than those who worked at the parks; our shifts are either 7am - 3:30pm, or 3:30pm - 10pm/12am, which really isn’t bad at all to be honest. I know people who have crazy shifts that may last to 5am! Also a benefit of being a custodian is the fact that we’re mostly independent. We’re not stuck standing in one place the entire time, and we’re free to wander around and do whatever as long as our job gets done. There’s no one breathing on our necks (for the most part, at least).

It took me maybe a month and a half to get to this point of enjoying my job. But it took me even longer to not be ashamed.

Since the very first day I’ve been ashamed of being a custodian. I remember standing in line during the DCP check-in, trying to make small talk with a fellow CP. I asked her what her role was (I forgot her answer). But when she asked me what my role was, I answered “Custodial,” and she just said “Oh,” with the most unsatisfied tone. She turned around and that was the end of our conversation.

During one of the first few days of orientation, I spoke to a fellow CP who was also placed in Custodial. I recall saying something along the lines of “Yeah, custodial wasn’t exactly my first choice. I’m sure it wasn’t yours either.” But I was wrong. The guy just smiled and told me how he actually did pick custodial as his first choice because “Why not?” I was taken aback, and I felt so rude for my unenthusiastic comment about being placed in Custodial.

Whenever I would be working, I’d used to always feel ashamed while I was on the job, especially whenever I was in a very public space. I was so insecure about being a custodian that I kept thinking the guests around me were judging me. As if they were thinking “Oh, he’s just a custodian,” or “Look at this poor, lowly custodial boy.” I don’t know why I was so insecure but I was.

I viewed being a custodian as the lowest form of work. I saw it as a bad thing - something no one was ever confident being. I was wrong to think that. I’ve met some of the most amazing, most hard-working people here who are custodians. There are co-workers who have the best work ethic I’ve seen, those who are genuinely proud of their job. They’re funny, passionate, and smart. I know a co-worker who could speak least four different languages: French, Creole (which I understand stems from the French language), Spanish, and English. I regret ever thinking negatively of custodians.

Sometimes, negative reactions from people about my custodial position will bother me, but I’m no longer as hurt by the comments as I used to. Like I’ve said, I’ve grown to appreciate it more. I remember when I went back home to visit my friends and family, one of my friends asked what I was doing at Disney, and I responded “I’m a custodian.” He asked “As in…?” And I answered truthfully “I clean everything.” And my friend just said “Oh..” and turned and looked away from me, probably thinking “Damn, that sucks.” Yeah it bothered me that it was coming from a friend, but it wasn’t as big of a deal to me because of the fact that I’ve learned to be more proud of my role.

So when I was doing my trash run the other day, and I heard that little boy’s remarks, sure I was taken aback. But I quickly let it go and just laughed it off. The boy didn’t know better, and this is a role I’m starting to take pride in.