Kolby DeGarmo Loves People
When you check out at Ingles, you may be greeted by a friendly, attractive young lady who loves her job.
That may describe more than one cashier at Ingles, but it definitely describes Kolby DeGarmo, a rising junior at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, who works at Ingles in Monticello when school is not in session and works at Ingles in Carrollton when school is in session. During the summer she tries to work full-time, to make as much money as she can, but during school, working around her schedule, she said she usually averages about 25 hours a week.
Kolby is studying Early Childhood Education, and would like to come back to Monticello to teach, if not immediately upon graduation, then in the future when it’s time to start a family. She loves Monticello, and wants to eventually raise a family here. However, right now, she’s staying busy with school and work, as well as church when she is in town. She is an active member of Monticello Presbyterian Church, which she said she loves.
Miss DeGarmo graduated from Jasper County High School in 2015, and took off to Australia to live for a year. She worked where she lived, in an all girls boarding school, helping the house mother tend to the seventh through ninth grade girls. She would help get them up and ready for school and make sure everything was in order—clothes, homework, lunches, etc.
On the mornings she wasn’t at the boarding school, she worked as a nanny for a family in Australia. And, she also worked at a primary school as a teacher’s aide. Her aunt worked at the school too, so she got to spend a good bit of time with her.
Her maternal grandmother lives in Australia, but it was her aunt who made her aware of the possible position in the boarding school. Kolby applied, and got the job. She was six hours away from her grandmother, but visited her as often as she could; it was a lot closer than Monticello.
Kolby was the first student from the United States to serve the role in the boarding school, mostly it was Europeans. She said it was a great experience as she was exposed to so many different cultures….first being in Australia, and then being around people from several other countries.
Kolby is the oldest of six children of Drs. John and Kelly DeGarmo. Her siblings include brother, Brody, and sisters, Jace, Gracie, Brailey and Cassie.
Her parents have served as foster parents for many years, and when asked how she liked that she said at times she loved it, but it was hard when you get attached then the child gets taken away to live somewhere else. She said that was especially the case with the babies. She said she did her share of helping with the children, and it was very rewarding.
Kolby’s parents met when they were active in a group called “Up with People” many years ago. When asked if she would consider doing that, Kolby said that she loves to be on stage, and loves to sing, but that she can’t do it in front of an audience. Her forte is customer service, something she loves which explains why you may go out of your way for her to check you out at Ingles.
Kolby said she loves traveling, having visited Europe with her family several years ago, in addition to her Australian travels, and she looks forward to doing more traveling after she finishes school.
