I've always believed wisdom to be far more valuable than mere cleverness, especially for ordinary individuals. This belief drives my desire to learn from the everyday experiences of those around me, fostering my love for engaging with life's diverse facets, such as conversing with people from various backgrounds.
Here's a piece of wisdom I gleaned from the owner of a school bus service used by one of my daughters.
One might notice a shortage of school bus drivers, a challenging role that, while not requiring a college degree, demands significant commitment. Firstly, the job requires early mornings and working at unusual hours. Secondly, the journey is fraught with frequent stops and the need to navigate around other vehicles attempting to pass, making for a less than smooth ride. Lastly, it bears a great deal of responsibility, carrying the children of one's community.
For parents, especially those in large cities, driving children to school is also daunting. Hence, we heavily rely on school buses. Excitedly, my middle child's school introduced a morning bus service last year, which we promptly availed. Initially, two drivers alternated the route, likely due to the difficulty of managing such early starts daily. However, punctuality was an issue, with the bus often arriving late at the first stop, sometimes by as much as 40 minutes. Cleanliness was another concern, with the bus interior and entryway frequently littered with trash.
After hearing our complaints, the bus company's owner addressed the issues with the drivers, which led to temporary improvements. Yet, the problems soon returned to their original state.
Realizing that merely discussing these issues with the drivers was insufficient, the owner took an innovative approach. One day, to our surprise, a luxury Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van replaced the usual yellow school bus. Initially, we assumed it was a temporary measure due to a mechanical failure. However, the true intention was to demonstrate the standards of an exemplary school bus driver and the potential career advancements it could lead to. The significantly older luxury van driver shared valuable insights with our school bus drivers, emphasizing the importance of punctuality and efficient route management.
This approach had an immediate impact. Thereafter, our bus drivers were consistently on time, with the exception of a single delay caused by heavy traffic on the I-94 highway.