In the Oakville community, there are many familiar faces that people might see depending on if they are eating out, going to school or even just enjoying a high school tennis match. Shelby Enright, who some feel is a significant member of the community, can be seen at all three.
“I think that teaching, coaching and also waitressing in the community is very unique,” Enright said. “I get to see some of my students and players at Frankie G’s, but I also have just built relationships with all age levels including elementary, high schoolers and the customers who come in.”
Being an influence on the younger generation of the community has its perks, but it can also come with some setbacks. Working as a server and bartender at Frankie G’s, coaching tennis at OHS and teaching third grade at Point Elementary can be challenging; however, Enright has found ways to balance all of her work.
“Sometimes it gets overwhelming, but it’s important to find work and home life balance,” Enright said. “I’ve just made sure that I know on days that I work at Frankie G’s, I’m getting my homework done in other places or my grading done other nights. I usually just kind of make sure that if I have teaching, coaching and then Frankie G’s that I have all of my stuff completed beforehand.”
Even though Enright has a lot to do in her daily and weekly life, she still finds ways to make positive impacts on those who are around her. Not only have some of her tennis players, such as Joanne Musleh (11) and Morgan Menkhus (9), noticed her positive energy, one of her coworkers at Frankie G’s, Alexia Korn, noticed that when she went to tutor Enright’s students, she maintained the same energy. Korn said although Enright keeps a very professional image already, it was weird seeing her being even more professional while teaching. From work to school to tennis, people only seem to have good things to say about Enright.
“I love her. I think that she’s so funny and she’s so good at tennis,” Menkus said. “She really helps and she does drills all of the time. I love her…she’s great.”
Not only has Enright been able to affect older crowds, she gets to help younger kids every day as a third grade teacher.
“She has a very fun personality, very fun schedule and also a very fun recess plan for today,” third grader Evan Hamer said. “She puts the fun into education, and personally I think she is a great teacher.”
While students may find Enright’s teaching style to be engaging and exciting, like how third grade student Isla Brindell said Enright is her favorite teacher because she is the nicest one she has had, Enright also likes being able to make other people happy and their days better.
“I like being involved with teaching and working at Frankie G’s because some of my students actually get to sit in my section while I’m waitressing,” Enright said, “and it’s fun to see their faces light up when they see me as their waitress and as their teacher; and now that I’m a coach, it’s also fun because I get to have my tennis players come eat with me as well.”
Despite the challenges she faces in balancing all of her jobs, Enright feels it is all worth it because, in the end, she gets to do things she enjoys. But there is one job that stands out to her the most.
“I truly enjoy all three, but if I had to pick one (favorite) I would probably choose teaching because that’s where my heart is mostly at,” Enright said. “Coaching kind of adds to it because I get to work with the older girls, and then serving is nice because I get to work with the community, but teaching is ultimately where my heart is.”
