He goes the extra mile!

Gabriel Tello
Major:  Music Industry and Technology
Hometown:  Austin, TX
Class:  Senior

Gabe has made the rounds as a student employee at Chico State: grounds-keeping to Summer Orientation to the Information Center.  He started out as a groundskeeper working for the residence halls, and discovered how cold some of Chico's winter mornings could be.  Then he happened to see applications available at the Info Center Desk and jumped at the chance to work inside where it was warm!  He was hired as an Info Center Desk Attendant and has been there for two years. In between, he served as a Summer O advisor, so Gabe has a wealth of information about this campus at his fingertips.

Gabe is proud of the fact that Chico State is one of the few campuses in the CSU system that doesn't have an automated Info Center.  "When you call us you get a human voice, and people really appreciate that. We're often their first contact with Chico State.  Our job is to point people in the right direction to get the help they need.  We make them aware of services available on campus.  If a student needs help with a resume, needs a transcript, or needs a tutor we can tell them where to go for assistance.  If they don't find what they want, I always tell them to come back and we'll try again."

Gabe works with five other students at the Info Center and describes the atmosphere as family-like. "I've never had this sense of community in any other job I've had.  The people I work with are amazing.  They all have great energy and humor.  I like coming to work because it's a fun job 

- a great stress reliever."

Gabe is a people person so being on the frontlines at the Info Center is the perfect job for him. The job has given him invaluable exposure to all kinds of people.  "I've learned great life skills like how to be tactful and diplomatic in all kinds of situations."  He has been on the receiving end of customer service so he knows how important it is to go the extra mile to help people. Gabe boasts, "One woman even told me she was going to name her son after me because I was so helpful."  The job also provides him with flexible hours to accommodate his class schedule plus a convenient location in the center of campus.

"My entire college experience is one I wouldn't change for the world.  You get to meet and interact with so many different people, and they help you figure out who you are.  You learn by putting yourself out there.  College makes you grow."