|
Job keeps nursing student on her toes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Erin Frustaci
|
|
Wednesday, 26 July 2006 |
|
|
|
|
 Although rubbing feet for a living isn’t the most glamorous job, Amanda Pryor doesn’t mind. In fact, she loves working in a salon and pampering people’s piggies.
“It’s a good field to be in because we don’t ever get grumpy people,” said Pryor, 21, of Greeley. “I dare people to get mad. It’s hard to be mad when we are rubbing your feet.”
Pryor has worked as a nail artist giving manicures and pedicures at Ten Aveda Salon and Spa at Centerra since December. Her whole family is in the cosmetology industry, so the field is a familiar one. After graduating high school, Pryor decided to get her nail license.
“I thought I would get a trade first to help pay for school,” she said.
She is a pre-nursing student at the University of Northern Colorado. Before coming to the salon at Centerra, Pryor worked at another salon in Littleton.
“Being a nursing student, I’ve seen a lot worse,” she said. “Feet don’t bother me. I just think how much better they look after each step.”
Besides, the majority of people who go to salons for pedicures take care of their feet, she said.
Even though she loves her job, she has bigger plans for her future.
“In my mind, this is temporary, but my older sister wants to open a medical spa,” she said. “If she did that, I would probably continue. I do like the atmosphere, but I don’t want to rub feet all the time. I will need to move on.”
VITAL STATS
Name: Amanda Pryor
Company: Ten Aveda Salon and Spa
Title: Nail artist
How long have you worked there? Since December
IN HER WORDS
What is it about this job that makes it challenging?
The physical aspect. During the school year, I work 10 hours on Saturdays, physically bent and hunched over, holding legs. I’ll do one pedicure every hour for 10 hours.
Makes you get out of bed in the morning?
Starbucks. I don’t know what gets me out of bed. I have a dog that barks to get me up.
Things that impress you?
Strong-willed, determined people. I see a lot of people give up at school. Those who have initiative really stand out in my mind as good people.
Things that don’t.
Lazy people. I hate lazy people. People who don’t like what they do don’t impress me.
How do young/new employees get ahead?
Having initiative. Going above and beyond by take classes on their own. Shows and huge conventions give you an edge and help you stand out more. It’s also a way to share tips and techniques.
Did you ever think in a million years you’d work here?
Absolutely, because my family does it. My mom owns her own shop and my aunt and sisters also work in the industry.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
I’d be a receptionist at a spa. I like this atmosphere. It’s familiar to me because I have grown up in it and like it.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work?
I filled up the pedicure tub, left it on and flooded the nail room with 40 gallons of water. We had to get a water vac to suck it all up and cancel the rest of the day. All nail techs do it once. It was really bad.
Smartest?
Train other girls on how I do things, so we are all on the same page. Educating. We all trade facts. I think that’s the best thing we can do.
What’s the one thing you wish you could do on the job that you can’t right now?
I do just about everything here. I wish I had my aesthetician’s license so I could do skin. I think skin is really cool.
What do you do during your breaks?
I usually eat a lot. If we don’t eat, our blood sugar drops and then we shake when painting.
What’s one thing about your job you would do, even if you weren’t paid to do it?
I really like giving foot massages. I feel like you actually get something out of it. I give them to my boyfriend a lot.
Name one thing in your life that really prepared you for your job.
Growing up in the industry because I saw how you treat customers and learned the basic etiquette of being in a salon. You see both sides of the story. Most kids play house. We played hair salon. My mom would say do this and don’t do that. My aunt worked at the Oxford spa and salon in Denver. I saw how to run big spas.
Are you the boss? Do you think you should be?
I think I have enough ways to educate people to be a boss, but I’m not good at giving orders. I’m better at taking orders and would end up doing it myself. I can’t give direction, I can only take it.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
I have a dog and my boyfriend has a dog, so we go running or to the dog park be outside, not inside.
Pets? Family?
Roxi, a rat terrier. I have a sister here, a sister in Park Meadows and a mom and dad in Castle Rock.
Favorite TV shows.
“ER”. I’ve watched it since I was in the sixth grade. I’m addicted to it.
Movies.
I don’t think I have a favorite movie.
Books.
I’m reading “A Million Little Pieces” right now. It’s really good. My favorite book is whatever I am reading at the time.
What Web sites do you have bookmarked?
TicketMaster, is pretty much my only one. And Banana Republic.
Where do you play?
I have friends in Denver. I usually meet them there.
Go out to eat?
I love the Bent Fork. My boyfriend works at Olive Garden, and I eat there three nights a week. I also like Alberto’s in Greeley.
Favorite spot?
Going up to Horsetooth with the dogs. It’s a beautiful lake. I like to go there.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
I don’t know if I’ve ever done anything unusual. I’ve done retail and house-sat, but nothing any high-schooler doesn’t do.
Any interesting anecdotes?
I live everyday to its fullest. I don’t care what’s going on, I will do something fun everyday. I always make sure to leave on a good note when I’m on the phone to family or my boyfriend. I make sure to say, ‘have a good day’ and ‘I love you’.
What’s the biggest payoff in your job?
Pretty feet. I don’t know. Good looking feet. When brides come in to get pretty hands. Working with these kinds of people is a very rewarding atmosphere. | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
| |
