Cindy Cordner laughs through her day to brighten students’ mealtimes and add character to campus life.
RACHEL SACHER
Staff Writer
Paul Clark/Photo Editor
She’s the friendly face that Pepperdine students line up to talk to, although they don’t have much of a choice. She is Cindy Cordner, the service employee in the Cafe who knows virtually every student’s name as well as what they are having for lunch.
In Cordner’s address to the Pepperdine student body, she said, “Welcome to them all and serving them as them come.”
Cordner’s devotion goes beyond the external and radiates her internal character. From the moment she wakes until the second her head hits the pillow, Cordner said she tries to model her life after the phrase “carpe diem.” The words “carpe diem,” originally constructed in Latin, translates “seize the day.” “Carpe diem” requires making the most out of the present moment, by complete immersion of self into the immediate circumstances.
Paul Clark/Photo Editor
A day in the life of Cordner begins at 5 in the morning (sometimes 4:30), when she gets up to start her day with an exercise routine that consists of a 40-minute run, followed by stretches and a cup of coffee before heading off to work.
Here at Pepperdine, Cordner can be spotted working in the Cafe during the lunch and dinner hours. Typically, Cordner works six days a week. Each night, Cordner leaves campus at 8:30 pm, unless she stays later for a Pepperdine show or event.
After returning home in the evening, she usually falls asleep around 10 or 11 p.m., depending on whether she watches an episode of “South Park.” Saturday is her free day, and according to Cordner, it is usually spent watching her favorite sport “football, football, football.”
“[I enjoy] meeting people from different lands, because I come from a different land myself,” Cordner said. “The benefits are great [and] you get to dine for free, you can’t beat that.”
Cordner said that there are some negative aspects that accompany life as a Pepperdine service employee. Cordner finds the daily commute especially difficult, due to the 25 miles she travels each way, “since the gas thing, its been taxing”.
Cordner’s life began in the country of Trinidad and Tobago. The country of Trinidad and Tobago consists of two islands in the Caribbean Sea. The language in Trinidad is English, and according to Cordner the second language is “broken-English.”
She considers herself blessed by the people and the opportunity. Living and working here in the United States is not something that Cordner takes for granted. According to Jillian Kissee, a Pepperdine Senior,
“Cindy is always talking about how much she loves the, United States and feels blessed to be here,” said Jillian Kissee, a Pepperdine senior.
Other students echoed Kissee’s remarks, saying Cordner sends her care and love to everyone she greets as they run through the line in the cafe.
“Cindy is loved by everyone here at Pepperdine,” said Elizabeth Martin, another senior. “She takes the time to remember the name of each student.”
In addition to watching football, Cordner said she enjoys listening to political talk radio and TV talk shows. Some of her favorite talk show hosts include Sean Hannity and Larry Elder.
Fun for Cordner also includes sewing and tending to her garden. As far as religion goes, she identifies herself with the Episcopalian church, which is the denomination in which she was raised with in Trinidad
Cordner has been working at Pepperdine University for the past 10 years. In her first six years of her employment, she was assigned to secretarial work in the office of Gene Perkins, area general manager of the Pepperdine dining services. Perkins promoted Cordner to working full-time in the checkout line at the Cafe, due to her unparalleled love for people. Cordner has remained at her post for the past four years, and has proved to be a tremendous asset to the dining service team.
Cordner said the “socializing” and “learning of different lands,” keeps her job at Pepperdine exciting.
09-14-2006