Mara Guillet
MY GALLERY
This is my best friend Casey Lalak. She hates shopping, even when it's for herself. She was very unhappy to be woken up early and dragged through the mall, but I needed a Gasparilla outfit. This photograph was taken the very moment I told her we needed to stop at Sephora before we left.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 1.28.22
This is my friend Tiffany. She has always wanted to be a hairdresser but never had the opportunity until this year. She's very happy she is now able to do what she loves in a positive work space. I love this photo of her because she looks so content.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 2.2.22
My nephew Joey loves ketchup with a side of fries, especially Wendy's. He's a bit of a picky eater, so it's rare we find something he'll eat a lot of. When we do find something he'll eat A LOT of, we let him eat A LOT of it. He was very happy we let him do that in this photo.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 2.16.22
Environmental Portrait 1: Christina Nylese
1. What drew you to managing J.Jill in the International Plaza?
J.Jill manager Christina Nylese poses for a photo while working in the Tampa International Plaza.
Photo by Mara Guillet
Retail is what I'm good at, and I've always worn J.Jill. I wasn't even going to take this position because I thought it'd be too much work, but it ended up being perfect. I love everyone here anyways.
2. How long have you worked at J.Jill?
It feels like a century ago but I actually worked the counter for about a year and a half and then was offered a managerial position, so I've only been a manager here for around three months. I managed another store in the Tampa Premium Outlets and hated it, but that's also why I was able to adjust so quickly here.
3. What is a memory you've made here that you won't forget?
One day I was walking around taking inventory and Jason Pierre-Paul walked in with his girlfriend. I had no idea he was on the Buccaneers but I could tell he was famous somehow by the amount of jewelry the man had on, he was very stylish. I ended up ringing him and his girlfriend up but it was funny because he didn't say anything the entire time. He gave his girlfriend his card and looked down at his phone until the second they left. I thought if he actually didn't want to draw attention to himself and just stare at his phone he could've worn a more casual outfit.
4. What is your least favorite thing about working at J.Jill?
We get a lot of crotchety older women here which is hilarious and also scary for me. I don't know why but they always seem to hate me. They also never seem to understand why you can't use online promo codes as in-store coupons. Old people see any kind of promotion and assume it's always a coupon that expires at the end of all time. So the amount of times I repeat myself gets old.
5. What's something you could tell your past self about what you've learned while working here?
That I needed to get a job sooner. I took a long break between my last job and this one to focus on my mental health when in reality this job could've been the solution to me feeling the way I did. I'm the type of person that needs to feel productive and organized to be happy, or it feels like I'm just floating through life. I'd tell myself to get off the couch, go to the gym, apply for jobs, and stop wearing blue mascara.
Interview has been edited for brevity, clarity, and style.
My sister Madison and her best friend love hanging out at the park in their neighborhood, especially right after school. It's their favorite hangout spot because it's usually empty.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 2.22.22
My roommate and I decided to go to brunch at Oxford Exchange. In high hopes I gave her some of my espresso martini to try and she absolutely hated it. This was her face after one sip.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 3.3.22
This is my stepdad Nunzio. He grew up driving in Italy and Manhattan, so nothing stresses him out anymore. He likes to sit way back in his seat, use one hand to steer, and relax in the fast lane.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 3.15.22
This is my boyfriend Garrett. Every night his favorite thing to do is eat some cereal, he literally looks forward to this. He also likes getting ridiculously large bags of cereal.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 3.24.22
Environmental Portrait 2: Joseph Incorvaia
1. What was the most fun part of your day?
My very first favorite is snack time because my mom packs all of my yummy snacks. My second favorite is recess because me and my best friend Danny play wall ball and we are really good.
2. Are you happy that you came to this school?
Yeah but I miss my old friends, this school is better for me though. I don't feel bad here and it's way more fun. Plus it's closer to home so sometimes Zia picks me up and we get ice cream.
3. What's your favorite thing you've learned at this school so far?
We learned the difference between sedimentary rocks, igneous rocks, and metamorphic rocks last week which means we did cool experiments in the courtyard. That was my favorite experiment too since we found rocks ourselves and got to keep them.
4. Who is your favorite teacher here and why?
Ms. Bishop is my favorite in the whole world. She is the nicest, and the smartest, and also just the coolest. We have our own handshake too and she always remembers it. She also brings me Wendy's once a month and she knows I like chocolate frosties the best.
5. What do you look forward to most this school year?
Field day because me and Danny are both on the blue team, and everybody knows the blue team is going to win. The blue team almost always wins plus we have the best athletes on our team already. Also, I'm really good at soccer now anyways.
Joseph Incorvaia, my ten year old nephew, smiles for a photo in his new sensory school.
Photo by Mara Guillet
Interview has been edited for brevity, clarity, and style.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 4.1.22
My big sister has always loved to dance, starting when we were little. Even when she has a broken finger, you'll still find her tearing it up on the dance floor with some friends.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 4.1.22
My little brother always liked messing with my Dad. Only now he is a foot taller and a blackbelt in karate. This was taken at his birthday party this year.
Environmental Portrait 3: Jay Casey
1. What is your favorite thing about your bike rides?
Jay Casey, my oldest cousin, poses for a photo during his daily bike ride around downtown.
Photo by Mara Guillet
It's an escape from everything. I live a hectic life between being a full time student while working full time, so taking my bike out is how I get away. I have anxiety every day of my life, so it gives me the chance to sit back for a little and reset my mind. I think if I didn't go out and do this as often as I do I would be a stressed out mess.
2. Do you think your bike rides have improved your mental health?
Oh absolutely. I think everyone needs something that's just theirs, an outlet to rely on when their world feels crazy. Some days my anxiety is way worse than others but I can still always count on going for a bike ride. I also see it as a way I'm being forced to control my breathing for set periods of time.
3. Have you ever considered cycling or bike racing?
No not at all. I know I could do it physically, but it just wouldn't be fun for me. Like I said this is something I don't have to share with anyone besides myself so it's sacred. I don't think I'll ever do this in a competitive way, that would just defeat the purpose of me doing it at all. At that point it becomes like everything else in my life.
4. How has your life changed since going on your bike rides?
Well I'm a much healthier person inside and out. After my first deployment I was very depressed and inactive. I didn't eat right, I slept a lot, and I isolated myself from my family and friends. After I started my bike trips and it became a regular thing, I've felt more motivated to take better care of myself if that makes sense. Eating better, sleeping less, and gaining my strength back.
5. What is your end goal when it comes to your bike rides in terms of your mentality?
I just want to be the person I was before my first deployment again. I want my head to be back in that same place. I had ridiculous amounts of energy back then, going out all the time and meeting new people. I was excited to wake up every morning and start my day not knowing how it would go. I just want that simple happiness. It's coming back to me slowly though, I get a taste of it every now and then.
Interview has been edited for brevity, clarity, and style.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 4.10.22
This was the exact moment my coworker David saw another one of our coworkers join us at our table. He often comes to this coffee shop for their aesthetically pleasing espresso macchiato, its hole-in-the-wall vibe, and to meet up with friends.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 4.19.22
My hometown friend Kaden is not very fond of the beach. He was born and raised in upstate New York, so he's not crazy about being in the sun for long periods of time. I decided to take him to the beach during his vacation here in Tampa, not knowing he would want to leave within an hour. Long story short, he was not happy.
My grandpa's best friend in the whole world is my stepdad. They were both born and raised in Southern Italy, and enjoy doing all the same things. This is a photo of them at a cafe translating text messages from Italian to English while both struggling to see the screen.
Photo by Mara Guillet, 4.25.22
My friend David prefers a more "low profile" birthday celebration. I bought him his favorite carrot cake and invited his friends over for a small get together, which made him very happy. He did not feel shy or embarrassed blowing out his candles like he usually does.
