Crossing intersections
John Krudy
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: News
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Pastiva, 47, parks her maroon Buick near the corner at 3:30 p.m. on school days.
She carefully checks for traffic, then steps out of the car to put on her reflective yellow vest. Then she slips back into the car and turns on her radio. From 3:45 to 3:55 p.m., she listens to "How to Manage Your Money" on 96.7 FM, the Christian radio station. Then she puts on her cap, pulls on her gloves, and picks up her bright red stop sign.
It's time to work.
"There aren't too many kids in the afternoon," Pastiva said. "It's kind of hit or miss."
But Pastiva is there anyway, waiting for the No. 4 school bus to drop first graders off at the corner. There are always many more children in the morning, she said.
Pastiva started working as a crossing guard in September 2006 after working for Saga, Inc., for a year. The Hillsdale City Police Department employs her from 8 to 9:30 a.m. each morning and 4 to 5:30 p.m. each afternoon. She said she thinks the job is ideal for her situation as a single parent.
"I have a 13-year-old son, David, and my 15-year-old, Jenny, is disabled," Pastiva said. "So I can be home with them in the afternoon and when school's out."
Pastiva said she works to supplement her income from Social Security and child support, but she said she also likes providing service to others as a crossing guard.
"I love helping people," she said.
Abruptly moving into the intersection, Pastiva holds her sign high and allows a Hillsdale College student to cross.
"The students are so nice," she said. "One time I left my sign out here, and a student called in to report it. So I made her dinner."
Pastiva said she learned from the episode.
"Now I always check before I leave: gloves, vest, sign, phone."
College students appreciate Pastiva, too.
"She waves at everyone," said senior Rachel Sell, who lives on a street adjacent to
Pastiva's intersection. "She's out there when I go to class, and when I get back."
"I just like to be nice," Pastiva said. "I just want to share the love of Christ. And it makes them notice me, so it's safer."
She said she waves at every car that passes, and nearly everyone waves back.
At 4:30 p.m., Pastiva gets her first and only clients of the afternoon. The No. 4 bus drops off Elizabeth Ray, 6, and Jenna Glassburn, 7. Pastiva walks quickly to their drop off spot, then shepherds them toward the intersection.
Ray and Glassburn have been walking home from school since September. "Sometimes I get to help hold the sign," Ray said.
Pastiva laughs as she talks with girls, clearly enjoying this part of her shift.
"And what color line do you stand on at the street?" she asks.
"White!" Glassburn shouts. Pastiva laughs again, and then marches out into the street, her sign aloft. The girls follow when she waves at them.
After the girls cross, Pastiva puts her sign in the back seat of her car and prepares to go home.
"I love this job," she said. "The kids are great."
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
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