Antoneia Garrett has been serving the University of North Florida campus its daily dose of caffeine for the past two years as the manager of Einstein Bagels, ensuring customers leave not just with their early-morning latte but with a smile.
Garrett enjoys serving as the ambassador of bagels, but makes it a point to take time with each customer. Garrett said that it’s sometimes “hard to find a friendly face in college”, so she makes sure that she listens to everyone, actively working to become a familiar face and smile for students.
Garrett’s day usually begins before the campus has even woken up. “Oven on at 6, music on at 6:01,” she said.
Garrett – Ms. Nene to her fans – is a whirlwind of energy manning the station, singing along to the pounding music. She has the morning shift routine down pat, gliding across the floor as her nonslip shoes squeak against the carb-encrusted tile.
At a university with 16,000 students, campus life is constantly changing. Staff changes, and students graduate. But for the past few years, Garrett has remained a constant. She tries to get to know every single person who comes through her line, talking to every customer personally. “I loved college, but it gets lonely,” said Garrett.
Garrett chats as she rings up orders. It’s important to her to make these personal connections with each student. “I help them with their twang, that spark that you miss in college,” she said.
Before arriving at UNF, Garrett worked with the elderly, an experience that continues to shape her personal approach to work.
“I love working with college students; it’s like working with my own kids,” Garrett said. “It’s the best of both worlds, and I love watching them grow.”
Many of Einstein Bagels’ patrons have been visiting Garrett throughout their college years.
“You get to see them go from quirky, like the freshmen, and… then you watch them grow, mature, become better people, and it’s so fulfilling,” Garrett said.
For Garrett, the daily customer conversations carry a deeper meaning. “Everyone is put here for a reason, and that’s my reason. I’m not just here to work at Einstein; it’s bigger than that,” said Garrett.
By lunchtime, orders stack up, and the line stretches. “Come on, family,” Garrett calls out, repeating the usual rush hour mantra. The three student workers beside her jump into motion, matching her pace and energy, singing along to the music. In the middle of the chaos, she belts the next verse with a smile, with the group’s symphony aiding them in the rush.
Garrett’s happy demeanor and caring attitude extend beyond customers to the student workers she works alongside each day. Elizabeth Tracy, a student employee, said she loves the environment.
“We really are a work family,” Tracy said.
Zaria Wolffe, another student worker, carries the same sentiment. She said, “Ms. Nene is really kind and just roots for us.”
Garrett doesn’t see herself as a campus icon. She laughs about it, in fact.
“I try to be myself. Give what I was missing, my little kick, that something something, my little twang,” said Garrett. “It’s my torque. My twang. My spark.”
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