Behind the counters of Marshall University’s Food Services, two food service workers are doing more than serving meals. Through conversations, smiles and genuine care, Terrance Ewing and Carmen Plant have made their workplaces spaces of connection, comfort and energy for the campus community.
“I get a lot of energy from the students that come here, regardless of what mood they’re in. I like their interactions,” Ewing said.
For Ewing, motivation comes from the people he sees every day. He describes himself as an “energy person,” someone who feeds off the moods and interactions of others. Students walk in carrying stress from exams, relationships or life outside of school, and Ewing says he can feel it immediately.
His favorite part of the job is challenging students to think differently, not in a confrontational way, but through curiosity. Sometimes it means asking simple yet thought-provoking questions, such as the difference between truth and honesty, and other times, it means listening.
Ewing believes conversation paired with food has a powerful effect.
“I never met someone mad if I offered them a meal,” he said. “Food mixed with a little conversation and inquisitiveness goes a long way.”
Small interactions have often turned into meaningful moments. Ewing recalled times when students, after brief conversations, admitted they needed to hear exactly what he said. Some even became emotional.
Ewing said those moments are reminders of why he comes to work every day. Whether it’s a student, professor or staff member, his goal is the same: to brighten their day. A smile, he believes, is proof even on the hardest days, things can feel manageable.
“Food is energy,” he said. “Food is nourishment, and it helps people think better. You’ll perform better.”
At the Huntington Market in the Student Center, Carmen Plant shares a similar philosophy. For her, the students are also the reason she shows up every day.
“Just life in general – to see you come in as a freshman, to see you leave as a senior – that motivates me,” she said.
She says it is a powerful reminder of the impact food service workers have on a student’s college journey.
She loves learning where students come from, often picking up on accents and laughing alongside them. Beyond casual interactions, Plant prides herself on noticing when someone is struggling.
“I can tell if you’re having a bad morning,” Plant said. “I just want to be that smile that says, ‘Slow down. Everything’s going to be alright.’”
For Plant, a customer’s smile means everything. It’s a reassurance that she made a difference, even if only for a moment. Staying positive during busy or stressful times comes from remembering many students are far from home navigating independence for the first time.
“I want to be that warm, inviting presence just to let you know someone cares,” she said.
Plant is also known for giving students nicknames that make people laugh and feel noticed.
“Sometimes all it takes is a greeting. Just a smile,” she said, adding it’s her way of helping students feel seen in a place where days can easily blur together.
Both Ewing and Plant believe food service workers play an essential role in students’ daily lives. When students are rushing or overwhelmed, they provide not just meals, but moments of calm and connection.
“They’re people too, and everybody shares the same emotions,” Ewing said.
In a world where college life often feels rushed and overwhelming, Ewing and Plant remind students kindness can be found in unexpected places. For many, smiles, conversations and care are more than memorable; they’re meaningful.
Jimmy John Jacob can be contacted at [email protected].
