Working Senators: Malik Goethe

PrideTime Reporter: Omar Partida

   Student-athlete by day,  serving the Chick-fil-A dining room by night. It sounds crazy that Malik Goethe plays football, wrestling, lacrosse, but still manages to work. Malik started working at Chick-fil-A last July. He wanted to take some responsibility and start making some money on his own.
   “My sister was working and I got tired of asking my parents for money so with a job I see something and I get it and it looks good with anything you do”

Practicing all year long Malik has to work late every day, sometimes not leaving work until 11:30. He has to leave 10 minutes early every practice to make sure he gets to work on time. Where some kids after school hang out with friends, play video games, or do their schoolwork Malik finds himself very busy and his job restricts him from having the pleasure to do the things he likes to do. He says working actually makes him more responsible because it stops him from wasting his time.
   “It puts more pressure on me and I feel like I'm always busy rather than wasting my time and it has made me a lot more responsible.”
   Not only does Malik stress about his late hours at Chick-fil-A but he also finds himself struggling to even get to work. After practice he needs to quickly go home to change into his work clothes and take an Uber to Chick-fil-A, so forgetting something can really shoot Malik in the foot because he has no one to bring his things. Malik found himself in these kinds of dilemmas far too many times.
“I had left my shoes once at home and I had started @ 6 and it’s was 5:45 and I get there to realize I left them and had to Uber all the way home and back”
But it’s Malik’s attitude and the fun environment at Chick-fil-A that keeps Malik from going insane. Many of the kids Malik works with are his friends from school, he claims that working along his friends rather than strangers has really helped keep his job interesting. The bond that ties his friends together in the workplace can never be broken he says.
   “Malik is a very funny guy and I have fun working with him. On our free time, we would always kid around and laugh at the many jokes being tossed around.”
   That was Reginald Fleuancy (19’) or Reggie for short, he is just one of the many friends that Malik works with. His friends are all amazed by his work ethic. Miguel Lopez (19’) another one Malik's coworker/friend relies on Maliks optimism to cheer him up on many lousy days at work.
   “Malik is one of those guys who can cheer you up if you are feeling down and can take on a leadership role when needed at any point.”
   Although working does make it hard for him to catch up on school work Malik always gives it his all. Malik’s dedication in the classroom and workplace along with his passion for sports will serve him well not for the remainder of his high school career but in college and beyond.

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