Just about every UT student knows her laugh. Just about all of them know her name.
But then again, how could they not? Anybody visiting the Spartan Club in Vaughn Center could not miss the presence of a bubbly, high-spirited woman who always finds a way to make someone smile.
Shirley Barnes works as a cashier there, but has proven to be even more to the students she interacts with everyday.
“I tell Shirley all my problems,” UT sophomore Stephanie said as she greeted the UT worker with a gentle hug. “Before I get any food or drink I come right to Shirley and she brightens my day, she adds excitement to it, she dances for me and I know when I see her in the morning she just makes my day.”
Barnes has been working at UT for almost two years, and she says she’s never had a job quite like it. She said this is her first college-based job and added that working at UT has helped her in more ways than one.
“It makes me feel real good,” she beamed. “They help me just as much as I help them. I encourage them and they encourage me. I love working with kids and I try to make it fun for them because not everyday they’re feeling the best. Some days they come in here and they’re depressed so I try to let them know it’s going to be all right.”
As she spoke to The Minaret about her “motherly” role at UT, a number of students walking by would stop and greet her, hugging her and telling them how the weekend was.
From the tall female basketball player, to the blonde haired, blue eyed girl and even the quiet, shy looking guy with curly hair, Shirley is a friend to all.
“This girl right here was at my church on Sunday,” Barnes exclaimed. “We had such a good time and I’m sure we’re going to do it again. I just like being here for the kids, I enjoy their company.”
She admitted that there are days when even she is not in the best of moods, “but for the sake of the kids,” she said she always finds a way to uplift her spirits so when she gets on campus, she can be the same “Shirley” that everybody knows.
Barnes told The Minaret that she has become so close with so many UT students that they come to her with their problems – personal or not.
She said she has been told of some students’ run-ins with other “not-so-happy” workers around UT and has had to comfort them.
“A lot of people around here aren’t positive towards the kids,” she said. “And a lot of students don’t eat at certain places because of the people who work there. They (the workers) just have to learn how to treat people.”
She said while she understands that not every day is going to be a good one, having a positive outlook on life helps to smooth things out.
Sophomore D’Asante Beneby said she can’t seem to figure out how Shirley does it day after day, but she definitely finds a way to brighten any situation.
From taking some students to church, inviting others to barbecues, and just being there for them while on campus by telling jokes, talking to them or simply laughing, Shirley is definitely the heart and soul of UT.
“I just think you have to keep a positive and let whatever’s at home stay home,” she said. “That’s how I manage. Because when I come here they make me laugh, I make them laugh and I just forget things sometimes. I love being around these kids.”