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Paper #2- Connie- The Friendly Face of the Cafeteria
October 6, 2011 | | 1 Comment
Relatively speaking, lunch ladies are stereotyped as being frumpy, grumpy, and dumpy, but not here in Morningside College’s cafeteria. The entrance workers are some of the friendliest people on campus. They always welcome students with a “good morning” or “good afternoon” and send them off with “have a good night” or “take care.” They not only scan I.D.s and have a full bowl of mints ready for one’s departure, but they also are interested in students’ social, academic, and athletic lives as well.
Many Morningside Students talk about the workers in the cafeteria, but Connie seems to be the topic of discussion. Students had only good things to say. “Connie loves to go above and beyond just greeting us when we enter the caf. She knows everybody by name and loves chattin’ it up after scanning our cards” said Seth McCauley, a junior here at Morningside.
Connie has worked at Morningside College going on six years and has been with the Sodexo business going on eleven. “You look so cute today Taylor”, “Ryan, green is definitely your color”, and “pretty scarf Cameron” are all comments that one may hear while walking into the cafeteria on a regular basis. Connie, the personable and friendly I.D. scanner that works at the entrance to the cafeteria has a great reputation with the students here at Morningside College. She says that she “loves forming relationships with the students. It makes the job so much more enjoyable, and the kids enjoy it too.”
Connie was a big fan of giving hugs if students were having a bad day, or just for the heck of it. Connie and the other workers are always told to be friendly toward the students, but after she was approached and was told that giving hugs “interfered with students’ personal space and was not professional” she was asked to stop. Only verbal interaction is allowed now. After being asked how she felt about that, Connie replied, “I felt awful, sad, and some tears. But I do understand. I miss the hugs a lot! I not only gave them when you were sick or not feeling up to par, I gave them when you passed or aced a test, won your sports activities, and on sad says too.”
Although Connie cannot interact quite as closely with the students as last year, she still seems to find a way to make everyone feel welcome. Whether it’s her friendly smile with a twinkle in her eye, or a nice compliment that will make your day, students know that when they enter the cafeteria they will see a friendly face that knows them by name and cares about them on a personal level.
Comments
1 Comment so far
I like the lead, Sarah. But cut what’s unnecessary. Split it into two paragraphs. Be quick and hit hard.
Olson?
Take yourself out of the second graf. The graf about home cooked meals doesn’t fit. That’s for a different story. This is Connie’s story.
Shorter paragraphs. One idea to a graf.
Cut the last line.
Good start, Sarah. Talk to Sarah’s boss.