Every year, Janitorial Manager awards a $1,000 scholarship to a high school senior or current college/university student in the U.S. or Canada. This year, our winning essay came from Sunny Hsuing, who answered the prompt, “Describe when you were treated poorly by a customer, how it made you feel, and how it has influenced your behavior towards others.”
Sunny Hsuing, a caregiver at a senior assisted living center, titled her essay, “A Banana: Still Good Inside.” In her writing, she offered a reminder of the importance of patience and empathy – values that align with both the caregiving and cleaning industries.
A Profound Lesson Learned
In her winning essay, Sunny shared a story about a resident that she had befriended while working in her caregiving role. She describes this resident, Mr. R, as oftentimes quiet, kind, and eager to share stories of his younger self. This is why Sunny was beyond surprised when he angrily lashed out about something as small as struggling to peel a banana. He yelled at Sunny out of frustration and even threw the fruit at her.
Understandably, the situation left Sunny feeling confused, embarrassed, and disheartened. After all, she had always treated the residents with her utmost respect and patience. However, instead of holding it against Mr. R, she chose to embrace the moment with empathy. Through reflection, she realized that his anger wasn’t truly about her or the banana. Instead, it may have simply been an emotional response to feelings of lost independence.
Through this experience, Sunny learned to:
- Lead with patience, even when others are emotional, upset, or unkind.
- Show empathy towards others, even if you aren’t aware of their internal struggles.
- Acknowledge the importance of all workers, especially those in service industries.
Sunny’s story illustrates that kindness, even in the smallest gestures, can ease frustration and bring a sense of respect and humanity to those who need it most.
How This Story Relates to the Cleaning Industry
For cleaning professionals, empathy and patience are just as important as efficiency. Just like Sunny, many janitors, custodians, and service workers face moments where their hard work is overlooked or unappreciated. Yet, these roles are vital to creating safe, clean, and welcoming environments for others.
At Janitorial Manager, we recognize how hard it can be for cleaning teams to balance demanding schedules, client expectations, and the inevitable emotional toll of being in a service role. That’s why our software is designed to:
- Simplify communication so that teams can stay connected and supported.
- Increase accountability and visibility, ensuring great work never goes unnoticed.
- Improve job satisfaction, helping team members feel valued and respected.
Because at the end of the day, cleaning isn’t just about the tasks themselves – it’s also about caring for people and their spaces.
Building a Future of Respect & Recognition
Sunny’s essay reminds us all to pause and appreciate those who serve others. Whether it’s caregivers, janitors, or any frontline worker, a simple “thank you” can go a long way.
Our annual scholarship is just one small way Janitorial Manager gives back to the community, shining a light on the importance of service and leadership in everyday life. To all cleaning professionals out there: your work matters, and we see you.
Want to learn more about how Janitorial Manager helps elevate the work of cleaning teams?
Explore our features here and see how we can help you improve efficiency while building a more positive, supported team environment.
