As you enter the Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) cafeteria, you’ll notice a friendly face sitting behind a desk near the front. That’s Ms. Shirley Oliver, BSA’s cafeteria monitor. 

Ms. Shirley is entering her third year at BSA and is thoroughly enjoying her time here. After previously retiring from her job as a retail salesperson, Shirley heard about her current job from another staff member at BSA.

“Instead of sitting at home, I wanted to find something else to do,” said Shirley. 

To Shirley, starting work at BSA meant joining a welcoming community. She’s made close connections with both the staff and students.

“I have met a lot of nice people since I have been working here. And the kids, too. They’ve come around.”

Shirley has found the transition from working in retail to working at a school rewarding.

“This is my first time working in a school with all these kids. And I enjoy it, I really do, because you get to know them, try to understand them and what they’re going through, talk to them.”

Growing up in Baltimore, Shirley was never interested in participating in the arts herself. 

“That’s why a lot of these kids amaze me, you know, because just to see what they do and how they perform and stuff. And they really work hard. They really, really work hard.” 

Shirley begins her day by arriving at BSA around 10:30 a.m. and makes her way down to the cafeteria, where she cleans off and prepares tables for the first batch of students. Throughout the rest of the day, she greets and dismisses students during their lunch periods and handles those who leave early to attend their private lessons or other events.

“I don’t mind that [part],” said Shirley, on the topic of private lessons. “As long as they have a pass. They need all the education they can get. I just ask that they have a pass.”

Shirley ends her day by cleaning up the cafeteria one last time before heading home. 

Her routine may seem simple, but on a deeper level, her role at BSA holds more significance. 

A student’s lunch period is a time when they can decompress and fuel up for the rest of their day. Part of Ms. Shirley’s role is to support students during this much-needed break in their busy schedule.

“I love being around the kids, and I love talking to them, too. Sometimes you just don’t know what somebody is going through that day. A little thing like ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good afternoon’ can help them a whole lot because sometimes people need that. And I enjoy it.”

Shirley values working with the students at BSA, not only because she loves kids, but because she sees just how hard they work. 

“My heart goes out to some of them,” she continued. “I really enjoy them when I see them perform. They do a really good job. They are really good.” 

Outside of working at BSA, Shirley enjoys hobbies like bowling and traveling to Michigan to visit her family. 

Although Shirley usually brings her own lunch, she will occasionally have the school-provided one. Her favorite?

“I like the chicken and rice,” she says.

So, next time you enter the cafeteria, consider striking up a conversation with Ms. Shirley before you sit down to begin eating lunch, or at least saying hello. 

To continue to make the cafeteria an inviting space, take a piece of advice from Ms. Shirley:

“We have to respect one another. In order to respect you all, you have to respect me, because I’m just doing my job.”

To contact this writer, email Muse Newspaper at musebsa@bsfa.org.

This story was written in partnership with The Banner Youth News Lab.

Featured photo by Nola Harvey for The Muse.