Coming into Her Own
Exploring the streets of Porto, Portugal, with her older sister wasn鈥檛 originally a part of Anja Bailey鈥檚 plans. It was supposed to be a study abroad trip for psychology students in 2020, but with the on-set of the pandemic, her trip, like so many others, was cancelled. With an Iberia Airlines voucher that was about to expire, Bailey decided to step outside her comfort zone and go to Porto with her sister Adiah on their own in December 2021鈥攁nd what an awesome idea that turned out to be. If you had asked Bailey a few years ago if she was up to trying something new, she would鈥檝e probably said no. Now, she considers herself a go-getter鈥攔eady to tackle new challenges and new experiences.
Bailey is graduating this December with a bachelor鈥檚 in psychology, with a concentration in community and organizational leadership, and a minor in business. Bailey is a native of Brunswick. She attended Brunswick High School and was a dual enrollment student at the College. When it came time to decide her next steps after high school, she wasn鈥檛 sure what she wanted to do. Her sister and parents all attended out-of-state colleges, but one of her goals was to graduate debt-free.
鈥淪ince I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do, and didn鈥檛 want to go to a college where I would have to pay a lot of out-of-pocket costs, and have to apply for loans, I decided to go right across the street from the high school and complete at least another year,鈥� she said.
Through dual enrollment, Bailey had completed her freshman year of college before her high school graduation. Her plan to stay at the College for just another year soon changed into her earning her bachelors at Coastal.
鈥淚 was originally going to major in interdisciplinary studies, with a minor in communication,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淭hen, I changed my mind and decided on psychology instead, especially since I wanted to go into human resources.鈥�
She鈥檚 getting great insight into the field of human resources as a student worker for the College鈥檚 Human Resources Office.
鈥淚鈥檝e had so much fun. The women I work with are just phenomenal. I鈥檝e worked there for three years and this is the longest position I鈥檝e ever had. Everyone is amazing. I learned a lot through HR,鈥� she said.
The HR staff thinks the same of her as well. She was described as an intelligent, personable, reliable person with a strong work ethic, and an all-around asset to the team. Her duties include being the welcoming and professional first point of contact for the office, clerical work, answering emails and phone calls, creating folders for new employees, assisting with important HR audits, and more. Anjee Tucker, human resources coordinator, said that Bailey鈥檚 attention to detail and understanding of the importance of confidentiality is evidence of her high standards.
What most students and parents might recognize Bailey for is from her job at the College bookstore. Her sister, who was also a dual enrollment student at the College, first worked in the bookstore when the vendor was Follett. They needed more people, so Anja was hired to help, while she still worked at her other job鈥擝ig City Cleaners on St. Simons Island.
鈥淚 was able to start college in 2019, so I got the job at the bookstore and was working on and off because I was still working at the dry cleaners. When Barnes & Noble came, Ms. Phyllis Broadwell (assistant vice president of human resources and auxiliary services) said, 鈥業 know you have experience working at the bookstore, do you think you and your sister can work there?鈥� My sister was leaving for College again, but I started in 2020 and helped Barnes & Noble set up and move everything in. I鈥檝e been working there ever since,鈥� she said.
Bailey is the bookseller for the store, helping students purchase and find their books upstairs. She helps students and parents get the best prices, shares whether or not a book is needed for a specific class, shows students how to use their financial aid to purchase books, how to order books, and find books themselves without help. Although Bailey is not the assistant manager of the bookstore, she鈥檚 been trained in the duties of one.
鈥淚 knew a lot of the things that they did. I was taught how to order books, how to look up books if they鈥檙e not on the shelves, and see what鈥檚 already been ordered,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淲e also have an online system and I understood most of it. I would train people on how to use it. Even though I was a bookseller, I did more and had a lot of fun鈥攅specially with training people, which is what HR does.鈥�
Bookstore Assistant Manager Tika McKay described Bailey as the light of the staff, an amazing leader, and a rock star. McKay talked of how Bailey runs the upstairs section of the bookstore, works behind the register, and helps to maintain the store.
Out of Her Shell
Getting to the point of being considered a leader didn鈥檛 come easy for Bailey. It took some time for her to get out of her shell, and that happened when she took advantage of different opportunities.
鈥淚鈥檓 a more go-getter, outspoken person. I鈥檓 more 鈥榊eah, I can do that.鈥� I used to be shy. I would stay to myself and wouldn鈥檛 be out there doing things. Now, I鈥檓 more comfortable with myself, but I still have a lot of ways to grow,鈥� she said.
It first started with her job at Big City Cleaners when she was about 15 years old. She learned how to interact with customers, work the drive-thru, answer phones, and manage the business鈥� system.
鈥淚 started getting comfortable after a while and made friends, not just with the employees, but with the customers as well,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淪ometimes they would come in on Saturdays just to say hello and they would bring their children, so I got to watch them grow up.鈥�
She brought these skills to the bookstore and her HR position, which further bloomed. Bailey is also a problem-solver and tries to resolve issues on her own before going to her supervisors. McKay can attest to this, saying that Bailey has a talent for turning around bad situations and for calming down frustrated customers. She feels the stress leave when Bailey is around.
鈥淢ost of the time, I can figure it out, like at the bookstore, and sometimes I have to ask for help. I鈥檒l tell the manager the situation and what I鈥檝e tried to do, and then we go about it a different way. Most of the time we can figure it out. So, I鈥檓 always trying to solve it. With all jobs, I鈥檒l try to solve it myself,鈥� she said.
The Result of Embracing New Things
Bailey still surprises herself at how much she鈥檚 changed over a few years. Embracing new things and change can lead to fantastic experiences and adventures, like her trip to Portugal. It was a weeklong trip and the first Bailey and her sister had taken by themselves. They went to a winery, did walking tours, road electric bikes, and stayed at an Airbnb that was a renovated fire station. They met people from South Korea, Spain, and one person who was considering whether to live in either Porto or Lisbon.
鈥淭he food was amazing; the people were amazing. We went at a really good time because it was off-season. A lot of people weren鈥檛 going to be there, and in December, it rains, but it didn鈥檛 rain that entire week,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淚t rained a week before and a week after, so we hit the jackpot with that.鈥�
Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Carla Bluhm, who has traveled to Portugal many times, recommended some sites and activities for Bailey鈥檚 trip. Bailey, in turn, did the same after her trip for other students who were going to study abroad in Portugal this past summer. She made a list of all the things she and her sister did, including enjoying food and restaurants. Bluhm and the students went to one of the caf茅s Bailey recommended, and they loved it.
鈥淚 talked to the students who were going on the trip. I told them about my experience, what we wore, what to expect, and all the activities we did,鈥� Bailey said.
One of her main struggles that she overcame was being afraid of everything.
鈥淚 was always just a nervous person. I used to think people hated me and had mean opinions, but now it doesn鈥檛 bother me anymore,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 always struggled with accepting who I am, and now, I鈥檓 good and will say yes, I have come out of my shell. In 2019, I wouldn鈥檛 do anything, but I鈥檝e grown, and I鈥檓 cool with things. I鈥檓 free. The support has really helped.鈥�
The support that鈥檚 always been there as she鈥檚 changed and tried new things was her family. Bailey is a huge family person and loves them dearly.
鈥淚 want to thank my family for everything. I haven鈥檛 been the easiest person and they鈥檝e put up with a lot,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淭hank you for supporting me through tough times. I always look back to how every moment I spend with them is a good memory. I just want to thank them for being there, and that I don鈥檛 have to hide in a little hole. I can reach out to them and ask for help. Especially, for pushing me to do things that I would鈥檝e said no to.鈥�
Bailey is excited about her future after graduation. She鈥檚 moving forward with the confidence of her family鈥檚 support and guidance.
