Not only a server at Amici but a student teacher at Georgia Military Prep School
What do Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell and Stephen Rockwell have in common? All of them know what it’s like to touch the “Weekend Update” desk from the set of Saturday Night Live.
“The ‘Weekend Update’ desk grazed my leg,” said Rockwell, who has his undergraduate degree in English and is currently working to earn is master’s degree in teaching.
Rockwell’s brother got them the tickets via a lottery drawing, but they almost missed their opportunity.
Lauren Davidson- Graduate student Stephen Rockwell waits on one of his many tables during Wednesday wing night at Amici. Rockwell also spends his days Monday through Thusday student teaching at Georgia Military Prep School.
“We had taken a nap in the hostel, and we woke up kind of late,” Stephen said.
“We thought we missed it,” said Stephen’s brother, Hugh Rockwell.
“The ticket said show up no later than 6:45 (p.m.) or your tickets might be invalid,” Stephen said.
To top off already running late, they ran into some issues getting to NBC’s studio.
“We took the wrong train in the subway and we ran through (the parking lot) and were completely out of breath,” Hugh said.
“We probably showed up five minutes late and we are just sprinting up there and people … look at us like ‘What the hell are y’all doing?’” Stephen said.
They, of course, were the last ones in line.
The two went through one line and were instructed to take all the metal objects out of their pockets as to not set off the metal detector.
“Then she told us to get in another line, and of course we were the very last ones in the line,” Hugh said.
Well that move turned out to be beneficial for Stephen and his brother.
“That put us down on the very front row on the floor,” Stephen said.
And in a small world turn of events, Stephen was there with someone else who had recently been to GC.
“It was probably a week after B.o.B. did the homecoming concert here, and he was a guest musical performer with Jessie J,” Stephen said.
Stephen was born and raised in Waynesboro, Ga., and always knew he was going to end up a Bobcat.
“It was the only college I applied to,” Stephen said. “I came here in eighth grade for a basketball camp and I just thought the campus was really gorgeous.”
Stephen also wanted to break away from the mold as well.
“(I) decided to come to because no one else in my graduating class was coming here,” Stephen said. “I just wanted to carve my own path.”
Now Stephen is working towards his master’s in teaching, and as a requirement, has to student teach at one of the local area schools. He did not get the traditional school that many others are accustomed too. Stephen just started his student teaching at Georgia Military Prep School earlier this semester.
“The worse thing I thought was going to happen is that I was going to go in and they were going to shave my head,” Stephen said. “I honestly didn’t really know what to expect.”
Stephen earned his undergraduate degree in English, but did his senior capstone in a rather odd place for such a degree.
“I did my senior capstone in Athens, Greece … (I) had to do travel writing like food, public transportation and the people.”
Stephen tried to adapt to the culture there, but the locals made it a little bit difficult for him.
“We were taught to practice our Greek, but then all the people over there want to practice their English to us,” Stephen said. “And they listen to a lot of the same music we do, just ten years behind us.”
Not only has Stephen studied and traveled abroad, he’s journeyed to many places in the U.S. to follow the Georgia Bulldogs. From everywhere in the Southeastern Conference as far out as Big 12 country. His trips out haven’t always yielded wins for the Bulldogs.
“The worst was Oklahoma (State),” Stephen said. “I guess that one was the worst because we traveled so far. The OSU fans looked at us like ‘why are you guys driving this far?’”
Today Stephen not only is working on his master’s and student teaching during the day, but he is also working as a server and bartender at Amici Italian Café.
“I had worked at Ruby Tuesday, and I had friends who got me in here,” Stephen said. “I had always wanted to work somewhere downtown because I had always lived within a block of campus.”
Stephen does not think that working in food service is a job that is suited for everyone.
“I think it takes a lot to deal with people who it seems like their one objective is to really not treat you with respect.”
The biggest thing he takes away from his time at Amici and GC is his drive and determination.
“I’ve become so much more independent than I was in high school. Once I came to school I was pretty much dependent on myself.”
And like everyone else who has worked in food service, Stephen has that one customer that he will always remember.
“We had this one lady, her name is Janice Sadowisky… She would come in here and she loved so many of us, but some people find her kind of irritating,” Stephen said. “I just loved bringing a smile to her face. This was like her safe haven.”
Janice has recently passed away, but Stephen says he will remember her more than any other customer that has ever passed through those doors.
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