When Ms. Maria Banuelos, a Dining Service Staff Member, first began working in dining services as a career, she joked that she could “burn water.” Now, more than 30 years later, she’s a smiling, friendly face at the Commons, where she’s worked since 2011. 

Before Westridge, Ms. Banuelos worked in dining services at Caltech, where she was offered a job at Westridge by a former Dining Service Director. “I love [working at Westridge]. It’s a nice campus. There’s a lot of people that are nice, [including] students… they’re fun to be around,” said Ms. Banuelos.

Ms. Banuelos’ affection for Westridge students is noticeable even from an outside perspective. Director of Dining Services Chef Brandon Worrell said, “[Ms. Banuelos] loves watching the students grow up… and connecting with them on individual levels.”

After finishing work at Westridge each day, Ms. Banuelos heads to her second job as a custodian at Polytechnic School. “It’s a heavy day—very stressful, but I like it. I mean, California’s expensive,” she said.

Chef Brandon said, “[Ms. Banuelos is] one of the most reliable employees I’ve ever had. She’s always there when you need her.”

Before moving to Southern California, Ms. Banuelos lived in Zacatecas, Mexico. When she was six, her mother and three siblings moved to the United States, so her sister could receive medical treatment. As one of the oldest children, Ms. Banuelos stayed with her grandmother as her mother couldn’t take everyone to the United States at once until a year later. “I didn’t want to come [to the US],” she recalled. “I was crying and crying and begging my grandma to keep me.” 

Although Ms. Banuelos is glad to be in the United States, she still misses her family. “I have uncles, cousins, aunts, and people I don’t know [that] are my family. That’s what I miss a lot,” she said.

In California, Ms. Banuelos attended high school until the last semester of her senior year, when she dropped out due to pressure from someone in her life at the time. “I chose the wrong decision [by] not graduating,” she said.

After dropping out, Ms. Banuelos married and had three children. “I don’t regret having my kids and all that, but I do regret [not graduating],” she said. 

Now, Ms. Banuelos is no longer married, and her three children—Martin, Alejandro, and Revecca—are adults and have made her a proud grandmother. Ms. Banuelos spends most weekends having fun with her grandkids at places like the park and Chuck E. Cheese. 

Family means a lot to Ms. Banuelos. Besides her children and grandchildren, some of her favorite people are her grandparents. She also looks up to her father. “[My dad] was a positive person. He was very happy [and] friendly. I mean, he always was there to help people,” she said. 

Ms. Banuelos carries her father’s spirit and optimism into her own life by staying positive even on her most exhausting days. “I think positive,” she said. “Maybe I have a good personality—I’m always happy.”