From the early education days of preschool, children are bombarded with a question that plagues their minds for years to come: What do you want to be when you grow up? Answers that are encouraged by teachers and family members alike, include: doctor, lawyer, accountant and firefighter. Excluded from this list of prestigious and desirable jobs is smoothie-maker.
No, this is in no way a reference to the latest slang for a professional mediator, or the job title given to an entrepreneur creating a new shaving supply line; this is the label affectionately attached to Adriauna Scott by Saint Louis University students, or as she calls them, “my children.”
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon after philosophy class, freshman Amy Berrafato stops at Fusz food court to place a smoothie order, but also to catch up on lost time with her friend, Scott. Scott memorizes and prepares Berrafato’s order, guaranteeing her punctuality to her next class. As Berrafato said, Scott does more than just throw fruit in a blender.
“Everyday I come in here, she puts a smile on my face. I wouldn’t want my smoothies made by anyone but her,” Berrafato said.
Scott has created an enormous family in her six years working at SLU. In addition to the approximate 8,000 extended members, her immediate family includes three brothers, two sisters and six children, all of who reside in St. Louis.
“I have had so many good times when I’ve been surrounded by my family,” she said.
Although her vivacity and energy would lead one to believe differently, Scott’s life has not always been as positive as her attitude conveys. While pregnant with her third child, Scott was involved in a life-threatening car accident and was hospitalized for several days. Scott’s family immediately rushed to be at her side and she tearfully recalls looking up and seeing her father, whom she hadn’t seen in 20 years. Scott’s emotional reaction to being reunited with her father was fueled, as she said, from her cherished relationship with her own children. “Having my children … I don’t think I’ve had a better gift than that,” she said.
Scott accredits her remarkable attitude and passion for life to her husband, Willie. Because she is very sensitive and easily offended upon hearing a negative comment, Scott’s husband acts as her backbone and reminds her to let go of her problems and insecurities. “He is always telling me, ‘Give it to God,'” she said. Scott’s devotion to faith and belief in God is apparent. “I think God is a fence around me,” she said. “He allows me to see certain things when I need to see them.”
Scott’s job as “the Smoothie Lady” comes with what she said are endless rewards, including her being granted the opportunity to watch the transformation in students from their freshman to senior year.
“I look at ‘my children’ who come through here, and it’s an overwhelming feeling to know you have been a part of their growth,” Scott said.
The warm weather brings with it an abundance of smoothie customers, who Scott welcomes with open arms. Because of the line that has accumulated on a Wednesday afternoon around lunchtime, a coworker comes over and assists Scott with crowd control.
An amateur to the business, Scott’s coworker overflows the cup, leaving a flood of smoothie mix dripping out the sides. But Scott to the rescue. She very carefully takes a napkin and cleans the excess smoothie off the cup and hands it to the customer, her face adorned with a smile.
SLU students can only hope that with that careful dab of cleanliness, a piece of Scott rubs off on them.
