Text: Marloes Klaasse | Photo: Guy Ackermans They are indispensable on the campus: the cleaners, caretakers, caterers, gardeners, receptionists – the list is long. Resource seeks out these key people. They are not all staff – students do their bit as well. This time, meet Sterre Wiersma (23), student and receptionist at Atlas and Gaia/Lumen on the Wageningen campus.
‘We start at 6:45 in the morning, which is extremely early. The receptionists open the doors, switch on the lights, empty the post boxes and see to the room reservations. But the main job of a receptionist is to answer questions, both at the reception desk and by email. We often know the answer and if we don’t, we can refer people to someone who does know. As I look quite young, people don’t always come to me with their questions because they don’t think I’ll know the answer.
In Atlas, which is more of a management building, we are the first people anyone sees on entering. This is also where you meet and greet more official visitors. I was here for example when the new mayor of Wageningen came for a visit, although I must admit I didn’t recognize him. Other things happen in Gaia/Lumen and it is busier there because there are more students. Every building is a bit different.
As well as these day-to-day tasks, we are the contact point as first-aiders during emergencies. We get alerted, and we inform the right people and make sure they have the information they need to take action. I once experienced a fire alarm in Gaia/Lumen. The building had to be cleared. Afterwards it turned out that a butterfly had landed on the fire alarm sensor, making it go off. Fortunately, there was nothing wrong that time, although it was a shock for a moment.
I hate being on reception with nothing to do. Then you sit there wondering where the work is. What I like best is helping to solve a variety of problems. To do that, the main thing is to know where you can find the answer, and otherwise to look for it yourself first. And it is important not to be afraid of giving people a call to ask them things. Sometimes you only find the answer after four phone calls, and that feels a bit like detective work. Then you’ve really solved something.’
What I like best is to help solve a variety of problems
