During the years I have worked, I have always worked at a supervisory level. I have worked as a supervisor, not because of the pay rate but to interact with others and treat others as I would like others to treat me.
As a supervisor, the expectations of your superiors are high; they want supervisors cold-blooded, not to have close interaction with staff, and not to be too friendly. So they send you to all these trainings like " How to handle difficult Staff" or how to "Make Meetings be Effective" and many more, which most of the time what you learn does not take place at your job.
Supervision is not an easy task; well, at least for me, it has not been easy. When you work with a group of people for so many years, they become part of your circle. I, been criticized many times when I had referred to my team as my work children. However, if you think about it, they are like my children. As a supervisor, I train and address things with them; I will stand by them even if they are wrong, just like a mother would and, then address the issue behind closed doors.
Without a degree in Psychology, I have supervisor many people with diverse personalities. I have learned to listen to them, help them get up on their feet, treat them humanely and put a smile on their faces in the most crucial working moments. I have shown them respect and have received the same in return. I have apologized if I am wrong and have given the benefit of the doubt. I feel their sadness and worry about them, and I celebrate their achievements. How can I not care and love these people? They have worked with me through thick and thin. They take time to text me or call me to wish me a Merry Christmas or a Happy Mother's day.
Today my heart is broken. I learned that my co-worker Angel Campos, whom I supervised for approximately ten years, has passed away. My heart is hurting in thinking how this man was sick and still would push himself to work. This man was a big teddy bear. He always had a "Good morning" to say, he loved to prank people on April fools, and today he has left this world. He was a number one fan of Godzilla movies, oh and how he loved salsa music. He had the corniest jokes but, you did not have any other choice to laugh at his corny jokes.
I remember when we started working together, he was full of energy, always happy and alert. Then when his mom passed, he stopped taking care of himself and started deteriorating. Sometimes, when I would leave work, I would see him struggling walking down the street; there were times he was black and blue because he had fallen. However, every time I would bump into him, I would ask him the same question "Angel, when are you going to retire?." He would always say he was saving money to retire to Costa Rica; with a wink and, a smile his response was he just needed one more year.
The last time I saw him, I was no longer his supervisor. He was sitting outside client services waiting for Access-A-Ride; when I saw him bruised again. He looked at me, knowing what I was about to ask, and quickly said he was going to retire. All excited, he showed me some flyers of where he was planning to retire. His plans to retire to Costa Rica had changed; he was planning to retire and live with his brother in this fantastic development for retirees. Angel didn’t like to be alone.
The next day I was told he was in the hospital he was under life support. After weeks in the hospital, Angel left this earth before COVID made its grand entrance to NY. Angel had underlining conditions. Due to his medical issues, he would have been a victim of COVID; thankfully, God called him.
Even though he was not blood-related, during the years we worked together; he became family.
RIP Angel
