At 10:30 a.m. Lydia Hockensmith and her co-workers prepare food for students as High Point University’s Chick- l-A restaurant opens. She’s part of a team that provides a hot meal to students during the busy lunch and dinner rush in the Slane Student Center.
She doesn’t just see her role as work — she sees it as an opportunity to make an impact on students’ lives.
Hockensmith, who was born in Haiti and moved with her family to America as a teenager, has been at HPU for ve years, and she’s loved every minute. She gets to know students, takes them under her wing and o ers them encouragement. Wearing her customary red lipstick, pearl earrings and red glasses, she greets everyone with a smile.
“My favorite thing about my job is the students,” says Hockensmith. “I want to make the students feel at home here because they live here.”
That’s especially true during the first week of classes. She knows coming to college can be a bit daunting for first-year students. Every year, she looks out for the freshmen that pass by.
Hockensmith is always ready to lend a hand.
Not only does she help students find their way, but she also mentors them personally. Once, a student wanted to make a Haitian dish for HPU’s Annual International Festival but needed guidance on traditional meals. Hockensmith volunteered to make the student a dish she knows well from growing up in Haiti — pork, rice and beans. It’s a simple dish, but it made a big impact on the student.
Haitian cuisine isn’t her only specialty; Hockensmith has a culinary degree as well. She was drawn to work in the food industry because she loves cooking. It’s a great way for her to connect with the students on campus.
“I chose to pursue a culinary degree because I love food, I love cooking and I love the variety of food that I am able to cook,” says Hockensmith. “I was speaking with a student, and when she found out I was Haitian, she lit up because her mom is Haitian. Getting to share my culture with her through cooking was a great experience for both of us.”
Students like Giovonni Brooks, a senior majoring in sport communication, enjoys seeing Hockensmith when he stops by her station in Slane.
“She’s a friendly face when I come by for a meal, and she always says hello to me,” says Brooks. “Even though I only see her here, she’s like my friend. She’s like a mentor because seeing her puts me in a good mindset to finish my day.”
Feeding students a hot meal allows her to make them feel at home. That’s the mantra of the entire HPU sta — welcoming students to their new family.
“Everyone at HPU wants to make students feel welcome,” says Hockensmith. “That’s what it’s all about because we as sta members are here for the students. We are all happy to go out of our way to make students feel like they belong here.”
Like a group of international students from France. They came to HPU for a semester studying abroad. Fluent in French, her native language, Hockensmith was able to connect with them.
Speaking to someone without a language barrier made those students feel welcome on campus, said Hockensmith. Memories like that make her smile. So does so knowing that she can make an impact in someone’s life.
“I’m a people person, so I really enjoy what I do,” says Hockensmith. “I love having fun with students because they’re so diverse. My favorite thing I get to do every day is to make the students smile. If I could teach students something, it would be to keep smiling and be yourself. Treat others as you would like to be treated.”