more than a nickname

By J Nguyen

A reliable adult that is always willing to help out. A figure that watches over everybody throughout the school day. A person that genuinely cares for the students’ wellbeing.

Who comes to mind when you hear those descriptions? For me, I think of Buzz, our campus monitor.

Rain or shine, Buzz stands outside and keeps an eye on everyone. He coordinates with administrators and patrols the school during class time to ensure the students’ safety. Whenever a fight breaks out, Buzz is always one of the first ones at the scene and does his best to calm the situation.

Buzz: “My least favorite thing is when a student gets hurt, whether its in a fight or they have an accident falling down, whatever. I just don't like to see students get hurt… Especially when they fight.''

As an alumnus of Yerba Buena’s class of 1978, John “Buzz” O’Gosset has seen a lot of change on this campus. According to him, the school has become a lot more peaceful over the years. It used to have a much lower enrollment rate because of its gang affiliations and frequent fights. However, the enrollment increase means students want to come to Yerba Buena and learn.

After he graduated from Yerba Buena, Buzz went to play football at San Jose State, hoping to get scouted into something more significant. Unfortunately, his dream of playing football was cut short; he only played two seasons before his son was born, and he had to find a way to provide for his new family. With the help of his father, Buzz was able to get a job in construction and stayed there for 18 years.

Buzz: “I always played sports and I always thought I would make it to that big level, the NFL or wherever and it just didn’t happen. My son was born. He was born in ‘80, and from that point on I had to look at things a little differently, and that’s when I started working in construction.”

Eventually, the many years of hard labor took a toll on his body, and he had to get neck and knee surgery. The vice-principal of Yerba Buena at the time, Dr. Callaway, reached out to him and offered him the position of campus monitor.

Buzz: “We were gonna be the first one to do it or whatever, and she asked if I would be interested. And I said, ‘Well, if I can pay my bills, I would be more than glad.’ Because I’d felt working in construction I was just gonna end up being crippled.”

He started working at Yerba Buena in 1997, just as his son was about to graduate, and he’s been here ever since.

Buzz: “I have been kind of offered other positions, but leaving YB to me is a no-no. If I leave YB, it’s because I retire, not because I’m going to work somewhere else… It’s close to home and it’s part of my community. If YB fails, then my community fails.”

Amidst the online schooling period, Buzz continued to stay on campus, providing a safe place for students that needed a place to go. However, as the pandemic persists, Buzz has felt disconnected from the students, just like all the teachers. But, unlike the teachers, he does not see the same students every day and usually recognizes kids from their faces rather than their names. With everyone wearing masks, it’s gotten even harder for him to remember who’s who.

In addition to the disconnection issues, Buzz also contracted Covid-19 a few weeks ago. He stayed home for a week, and his absence significantly impacted the school. There were multiple fights in the week that he was gone, and while the advisors handled the situations, Buzz’s help would have been greatly appreciated.

Buzz: “I think it would be more advantageous to go back to online learning and keeping you kids at home safe in whatever environment that is. Versus subjecting you to somebody who don’t give a dang and comes sick and infects the whole classroom because he doesn’t want to wear his mask.”

While many students may overlook the work Buzz puts in to create a safe campus, he still enjoys and finds fulfillment in his job.

Buzz: “I love working with you kids… Just being around you kids and making sure you’re safe. Making sure it's an equitable situation for everybody no matter what your size or your color or any of that. I just want everybody to have the same opportunity.”