After working at Meramec for two years, she’s become a popular figure around campus for some.
By: Amanda Keefe
-Contributing Writer-
She begins her job at 10 a.m. every morning. She starts her day off on a positive note, thankful for the cheap bus commute to and from the school.
After putting her apron on, she makes her way to her cashier stand where she collects students’ money for food in the cafeteria. Faye Bryant says she enjoys working in the STLCC-Meramec cafeteria as a cashier, and some students enjoy her company just as much.
“I don’t know. I guess it’s the people and the students,” said Bryant about what makes her happy at her job. “Ya’ll keep me going.”
After working at Meramec for two years, she’s become a popular figure around campus for some.
As students come through the line one by one, nearly each has a new story to tell her and almost everyone makes her laugh.
“The students make me like this,” Bryant said as she donned a beaming grin. “They’re just a really nice bunch of kids.”
Dressed in her apron, comfy shoes and a smile, Bryant sits at the register, eagerly awaiting students.
Recently she styled her hair differently and she’s gotten a few comments on it from students and staff alike.
“You like it?” she said, touching her new hairdo. “It’s my Tina Turner look. I thought I’d do something different.”
Bryant raised four children of her own and was known around her community in South St. Louis City for helping “raise” a lot of kids in the neighborhood as well. Perhaps this contributes to her rapport with students and her love for being around them. Bryant is also a grandmother and she said she has a close relationship with her grandchildren.
“If I’m ever having a rough day, I’ll call my granddaughter,” Bryant said. “I know she’s always good for a laugh.”
Bryant said that throughout her time working in the cafeteria, she has only had one bad day.
“I had to work over the weekend once, and Monday rolled around and I was exhausted,” she said. “I thought, ‘Lord please help me!’” she said, chuckling.
Often what keeps Bryant going throughout her day is the music playing in the cafeteria.
“We keep it on the oldies station,” she said. “I love listening to my music. It’s the last thing I turn off before I leave for the day.”
It’s obvious, too. If a song comes on that Bryant enjoys, she usually sings it aloud and comments on it to students.
Most of the time, Bryant is great at making a positive impression on students. She can also give positive support. For example, a student came through the line stressing about a tough test she had just taken.
“Oh, baby. Don’t worry. You did great. I’m sure you did,” said Bryant to the student.
Although Bryant is responsible for working the register, she has other duties as well. Consistently throughout her shift, she makes sure all the food stands are stocked and organized. She cleans and straightens all items so it “always looks nice for the kids,” she said.
Always friendly with co-workers, Bryant is willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed. She said that the staff in the cafeteria is another positive aspect of the work environment.
“The people I work with are great,” she said. “They’re a real support team.”
She was hired under Chef Jeff, another known figure on campus. Bryant had a lot of good things to say about our head chef here at Meramec.
“If you can’t work for Chef Jeff, you can’t work for nobody,” she said.
Almost always cheery, Bryant can touch students’ lives, and for those few minutes she’s checking out their items, she can help to remind us of the simple joys in life. She sometimes adds that little something extra in our day.
“Sometimes this job can be boring as hell,” she said, putting her hand to her hip. “But ya’ll spice it up for me.”
She laughs.
