EAST STAFF
MEET THE
SOCIAL COMMITTEE We asked a few members of our staff:
“What is your favorite memory about getting ready for back-to-school?” Toni Cook
Purchasing and Inventory Manager Toni@EASTstaff.org
Whitney Croy Office Coordinator
Whitney@EASTstaff.org
Back-to-School Shopping. I have always loved to shop. Both of my parents are old school, so the only time we received new clothes was when we were going back-to-school and Christmas. I lived for back-to-school shopping. I prepped weeks in advance for what I wanted to buy from which stores. I also started practicing my arguments of why I needed a particular item so when my mother told me no, I had a well thought out rebuttal prepared.
The only thing I liked about preparing for school to start was the shopping we would get to do. I liked picking out new clothes, and one year I remember getting some Backstreet Boys folders that I couldn’t live without at the time. Other than that I was never thrilled for summer to be ending.
Larry Dicus
Pam Futch
Technical Services Representative Larry@EASTstaff.org
Senior Director of Accounting Pam@EASTstaff.org
It’s always about that last trip or adventure before you go back for me. My new favorite memory was actually this summer. I went to a three-day music festival in Manchester, Tennessee and got to see a handful of artists like Childish Gambino, Post Malone, Lil Dicky, and Cardi B.
Back-to-School shopping was an exciting time; a refreshed and new wardrobe was like flowers in the spring after wintertime. As an adult and post-accounting degree, I now dislike shopping altogether. Why can’t the pair of shoes I have invested in and grown to love just last forever?
Apryl Jackson
Lani Jennings-Hall
Communications Coordinator Apryl@EASTstaff.org
Marketing and Events Coordinator Lani@EASTstaff.org
Back-to-school was exciting not only because I got to get new clothes and school supplies, but I loved getting a new backpack with a matching lunchbox. My favorite was Polly Pocket! I knew that if I performed well in school I’d get to buy a new Polly Pocket with each progress report! I also liked knowing that dance and gymnastics were starting soon and you better believe Polly came to dance with me in my pocket!
Every year before school my mom would take me and my younger sister clothes and school supply shopping. I am from a small town about an hour and half from Little Rock - so to us, this was a BIG DEAL!
Melanie Ridlon
Sara Swisher
Senior Director of Operations Melanie@EASTstaff.org
Back-to-school was exciting because you got new things! My mom would take my sisters and me school clothes shopping at Penney's. Later in life, I learned that it would take the entire year for my parents to pay off one day of shopping!
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EAST QUARTERLY | www.EASTinitiative.org
Project Coordinator Sara@EASTstaff.org
In 2nd grade, I packed my backpack with all the supplies I needed for school the night before. It had all of my books, folders, binders, and lollipops that my teacher requested. On the morning of my first day of school, my backpack was ripped open, my folders had teeth marks in them, and the lollipops were eaten. It turns out my overweight dachshund smelled the lollipops in my backpack and ate my homework!
