Good-byes are always the hardest

On October 1, 2008, began a journey and an adventure I could never forget. 

I had just gotten back from Disney in August and was running low on money, so I took it upon myself to get out there and find myself a job. I applied to one place, and one place only: Smoothie King. There was a Smoothie King back in my hometown and I had applied there several times and never heard anything from them so I took a shot in the dark and applied at the one in Nacogdoches. I knew this meant going back home for the breaks was going to be harder because if I got the job I didn't want to press my luck with asking for a TON of days off because I was still living in the dorms.

Well, lucky for me, the manager at the time Linsey was awesome! She completely understood and on the day of my interview  I was so nervous. I had been in there several times to check on my application, and I had been in there before so I knew she was the manager, but she always told me, "the manager will call you if they want to interview you." And you know what... I got that call. She called me the next day and offered me the job and of course I took it.

I wanted so bad to impress everyone working there I gave 120% every single time I worked. I hardly ever gave up a shift because of school, I took people's shifts and I even overloaded myself with a few doubles because I wanted to prove that  I was worth Linsey hiring me. My day to prove myself came on March 18, 2009. I had been working there for about 5 months and was just trained on the cash register and so Linsey thought it would be best to just leave the store with me there, by myself, working the register... for the first time.

I literally remember that day because I was SLAMMED! I mean, I'm talking like 20 or more people were waiting for their smoothies. Linsey was very crafty at how she managed the store. She had several people, that she knew, come in and see how I was doing. I honestly thought I had lost my job that day. I went back to my dorm after work and literally cried for like an hour because I thought I had done so poorly that my job was on the line.

Linsey called me around 9PM and told me that she was very impressed with my efforts today and that she made the right choice in hiring me and that she trusted in me. Those words ring in my head still to this day. Nearly three years later I am still working at Smoothie King and I love it. Three years later and I still live up to Linsey expectations and anytime I do something I always, always have Linsey in my mind.

In May of 2010, I was promoted to co-manager with Anna. The first couple of months were rather hard because I had never been in any type of authoritative position, so it was hard for me to be bossy. That's what my sister is good at, love her to death, but she got those genes and I was dealt more of the passive type, but I had the guts to be mean whenever I really felt the need to.

Around August of 2010, Anna dropped down to one shift a week and I stepped up and took the full load. Maybe this was better for the store, but only time would tell. It was hard at first, and to be honest it still is. With all the reports and watching labor and trying to make the schedule and everything else that came with it. I still struggle, to this day, but it has all been worth it.

I came up with the SmoothieKing Nacogdoches Facebook page, created the Smoothie King 470 email list, I even brought the retail percentage back up to nearly 20%. I've given my heart and soul into this store and it's going to be so hard to turn my back and walk away.

July 3, 2011, is going to be a day full of tears and fear of the unknown. I interviewed at State Farm and got the job. I start off at part-time and they are working around my schedule while I am still in school and once I graduate in August they want to put me on as a full-time employee. State Farm wants me to start on July 1st, but I told them that out of respect to Smoothie King, and myself, I would need a little extra time to hire and train someone to take my place.

For the past three years I have worked with some and for some amazing people. Matt and Allison are some of the best bosses a person could ever had and I am honored and blessed to have created such a great relationship with them. God has blessed me with great employees and great bosses, that I honestly could not have asked for more.

It is going to be such a shock when I have to wake up and put on dressy clothes and drive past Smoothie King. It's going to be a different pace of life but it is going to be well embraced. It was time for a change and I think this is going to be a great opportunity for me, and for the store. I hope I have trained my employees well and I hope and wish the best for Smoothie King 470.


For three years, I gave it my all, and will continue to give it my all and everything I have left for the next 19-20 days. I cannot say I will not miss it because that would be one of the biggest lies I have ever told to not only myself but to anyone reading this. 


So here are to the stress filled days, days off and the best days of my life. Thank you Smoothie King for creating memories I could never forget.


From the bottom of my heart, I truly thank you for every moment.