June 13, 2005 — Lydia Nicholls says it feels like forever that she has been a single mom raising three kids, but she doesn't complain much. She says, "It is not that hard, but it can be difficult." She says working and juggling schedules can be a problem.
Although her daughter dances in a quadrille group for the Juanita Gardine Elementary School, Lydia says, "I have never got to see her dance. I am always working."
Her full-time job is at the Buccaneer Resort, where she works in guest services. She enjoys helping people pick restaurants and activities during their stay on St. Croix and has been at the Buccaneer for six years.
Lydia is very well liked by the Buccaneer's employees and guests, and she's very proud to have been chosen as April's employee of the month.
According to the resort's management, Lydia goes above and beyond the call of duty in a professional and pleasant manner and always smiles.
She calls St. Croix her home. She was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Barbados until age 12, when she came to St. Croix to live with her aunt. That was 1984.
When she was 19, Lydia left St. Croix to live in New York, where she worked in the banking profession for four years. She says, "The summers were OK, but every winter I got sick."
In 1993 Lydia returned to St. Croix and has been here ever since. She says she likes the Big island because, "The people here, they make you feel like family."
After having worked at the 2 + 2 Night Club for 11 years, Lydia has plenty of experience waitressing and bartending and currently helps out at Kim's Restaurant on occasion.
Lydia walked in the Women's Coalition Race last weekend as she has done in the past. Her youngest child said, "At least you finished, Mom."
Her real pride seems to come out when she talks about her three children — Martika Jarvis, 15; Markeel Nicholls, 10; and Malika David, 9.
"All my kids are honor students. Markeel takes accelerated courses." The younger two children attend Juanita Gardine Elementary School. Martika was recently chosen as an award-winning finalist for an essay she wrote about her childhood. The children are very well behaved and on the right path.
Lydia appears to have successfully met the challenge of being a single mother. Her present goal is to stay in shape so she can keep up with her children.
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