Our Solid Anchor

Jarod Bates’ Love for TruBru and Star Wars

Photo by Laura Zaidan/Maclay Andalusian

Many students at Maclay go to TruBru for a midday snack, greeted by the sweet aura of TruBru Manager Jarod Bates. Bates started out working at Maclay in the Which Wich station in the cafeteria, but two years ago, he became the TruBru Manager. Between keeping the store stocked and working at the register, Bates is always on the move around TruBru. Although most people might assume his favorite part of the job is keeping the store tidy, his favorite part is watching students come and go.

“I could say it’s making a store look nice and full and stocking everything, and that’s cool and all, but ultimately I do it because I love you guys,” Bates said. “I love seeing you every day, being able to chat with you every day and kind of seeing how you guys are. I want to be here to be sort of a solid anchor and somebody that can give you some stability in your day.”

Bates truly cares about each and every student who walks in the doors of TruBru.

“Every time I walk into TruBru and I go to get an item, he’s [Bates] always telling me how good of a kid I am, and always asks me how my day is,” sophomore Gray Wadsworth said. “He [Bates] always sends me a good farewell, so I love that man to death.”

Bates cheers up many students and leaves a positive impact on their day with his genuineness and compassion.

“No matter what I feel or whatever he has going on, whenever I go in there [TruBru], he’s [Bates] always kind, smiling and trying to make me laugh,” junior Grier Deroiser said. “He’s [Bates] always trying to do something to make my day better.”

Outside of TruBru, Bates has a passion for Star Wars. He has enjoyed Star Wars ever since he was a little kid when “Return to Jedi” came out in 1983 and then he got into reading books and novels as well. Now he continues to pass down his love for Star Wars to his kids and granddaughter.

“I love the characters,” Bates said. “I'm a Han Solo guy. I think everybody wanted to be Luke Skywalker but I was sort of the scoundrel. I wanted to be the guy who comes in under false sentences and rescues the princess, gets his money and leaves, but ultimately ends up sticking around because he has fallen in love with the people that he’s there to help.”

Alongside this, Bates loves Star Wars because it feels like an escape from the world. Between rooting for the good guy or hoping the bad guy turns good, there are twists and turns related to Star Wars’ plot. 

“You’ve got good and you’ve got evil and you might have some players that are sort of in the middle,” Bates said.

By sharing his passion for an entertainment series or a regular day in and out of school, Bates continues to make personal connections and positive influence as a solid anchor at TruBru.