Jasmyne Kay – Dining Server Co-Op

Hi, my name is Jasmyne Kay. I am a co-op student. I am currently working at Garden Spot Village in New Holland, Pa. They currently have 3 different locations. I am a dining server in the east kitchen.

My job as a dining server has many different roles. My duties are not just about giving the residents their food and drinks. It is about getting to know them and having a bond with each and every one of them that I serve. I follow a very strict routine because I only have a certain amount of time to make sure everything is set up and ready for service. I must make sure that we have ice for the drinks, and check and refill the coffee. I then get out the starters for the day and get out the desserts to make sure they are ready to just grab and go. I make sure that the counters look clean. Lastly, I just make sure that there is enough silverware for the service and I put the dishes away that were in the dish room. There is an opportunity for growth at Garden Spot Village. I am looking forward to training for “dish up” which should happen in the next month.

This co-op experience has been amazing. I have gotten to know so many new people. I love being able to talk to all of the residents and getting to know them. The residents talk to me about how they grew up and what they went through in life. It really gives you a different perspective on life and the way that you live. All of the residents were so kind, supportive, and understanding while I was training. I have developed a bond with quite a few of the residents. I have been blessed to get an opportunity to work here and get to see what a retirement community is like.

While I love my job, I learned a lot about myself through this experience and realized this career is not something I can see myself doing forever. My future plans include a trade school. I was able to look into colleges, apply for scholarships, and earn my Basic First Aid Certification through my Co-Op class.