Many people play seemingly small roles within our community, but they have a large impact in helping keep Lynbrook students safe. One person who plays this role every day is Mike, one of Lynbrook’s local crossing guards. Mike, who prefers to not include his last name, has lived in Lynbrook since 1988 and is married with two kids: a 34-year-old son and a 32-year-old daughter. Students from all over town, particularly those on the North Side where Mike is stationed, find him to be a very kind and well-known person.“Mike is a very thoughtful and very happy person. He always has a smile on his face, and is always so sweet to all the students,” shared sophomore Regan Casey.
Before Mike was a crossing guard, he worked for JP Morgan Chase, a financial institution. “I worked on back-office operations in this institution,” Mike explained. Once he felt fulfilled by this job, he became a cross walker. He helps cross many students and people on two busy connecting roads, Merrick Road and Peninsula Boulevard, each day. “My favorite thing about doing this every day is the people I get to see and talk with,” Mike expressed. He strives to keep everyone safe while also interacting with them by asking about their days or any weekend plans. “I walk home every day, and Mike is always happy and talking with me. He asks me about my day and gives me a fist bump every time he sees me as he does with all the kids,” sophomore Delia Kirkpatrick commented.
Aside from being a cross walker, Mike fills his free time with his favorite hobbies: “I like to go bowling, exercise, and shop on eBay to collect baseball memorabilia from the 1950s.” Mike is not just a person everyone sees on the street each day; he has become a part of all these people’s lives. “Mike always tries to make genuine personal connections with all of us while he is doing his job,” Casey added.
In addition to his assigned duties, Mike considers how others are doing: “I always try to look out for the kids. I try my best to be kind to them. If it’s cold out, I will give someone a pair of gloves. If I see the same kid wearing a light jacket in really cold weather, I’ll go buy them a new one.”
