In a world where rushing through life has become the norm, there is one street corner where there is always time to spread kindness. On 2nd and Peck, crossing guard Nicole Mitchell’s welcoming wave and radiant smile turn her small intersection into a beacon of support and community spirit.
Mitchell began working as a crossing guard in Compton, feeling motivated to take action after hearing about tragic incidents of children being struck by cars on their way to school. Determined to make a difference, Mitchell began spreading positivity by greeting every passer-by with a warm, “hi.”
Eventually, her father suggested she try waving at people as a different approach.
“I just started waving at everyone!” Mitchell said. “When I wave to people, I try to make eye contact with them. Now, I can wave at every car because I know how the traffic gets at the corner. I know that when cars come a certain way, other cars are going the other way. So I am able to wave at each car.”
Mitchell applied for a crossing guard position that she found online, bringing her to Manhattan Beach. In preparation for the role, Mitchell attended meetings at Starbucks, had her fingerprints scanned, and participated in a three-hour training session.
“And after that, Rita, [my employer], called us to let us know where our assignments were going to be. I came early and she remembered me and that I called three times, thanking me for my interest in the position,” Mitchell said. “She said that she knew exactly where to put me: in the area her mother lived before getting sick. When school started, she showed me the two corners where I was going to be and that is where it all started.”
Mitchell continued her tradition of waving at every person going by after moving to the corner of Peck and 2nd. Her radiant positivity has touched the lives of not just Costa students, but the community as a whole.
“In high school, things can get pretty difficult and it can be hard to stay positive, but Nicole is always a consistent role model of positivity,” senior Sadie Jun shared. “Every time I drive past her, she always makes an effort to share an act of kindness by simply waving. This never fails to uplift my day, and makes me motivated to be kind to others.”
In addition to serving as a crossing guard, Mitchell works two jobs to take care of her mother, and prior to that she was a foster parent for eight years. Her current night job, run by a regional company, is working with women in group homes who have behavioral problems.
“I work at night from 10 P.M. to 6 A.M., and am off on Mondays and Tuesdays. When I get home at 6 o’clock, I come home, change my mother, and get ready to go to my post at the school at 7:30 A.M., leaving at 8:30 A.M. After, I come home, get my mother up, feed her breakfast, give her insulin, and I rest until I go back out to my post,” Mitchell explained. “When I come back, I get my mother prepared for dinner, rest, and then get myself together for my night job at 10 o’clock. On the days that I have off, I pick those two days to take my mother to her appointments.”
A couple of months ago, Mitchell experienced financial strain taking care of her mother. With help from a friend, she created a Gofundme with the goal of raising $5,000 to help with rent and costs for her mother. Within a few days, donations poured in. Now, she has been able to raise more than $8,000.
“I was just so overwhelmed,” Mitchell shared. “Then, I thought, I need to tell these people ‘thank you’ because I was just so surprised, it really helped me. So in this community, I do anything I can to give back, because they came through at a time where I wasn’t even expecting it at all. And it really helped me with my mother, because I take care of my mother.”
Although Mitchell doesn’t always get a friendly wave in return, she continues to smile and spread positivity. According to senior Henry Michael, Mitchell’s gestures have boosted morale around the community.
“Waking up early to drive to school, and driving home from a hard day at school can be tough, but I can always look forward to a constant source of enthusiasm and positivity on the corner of 2nd and Peck,” said Michael. “As I pass by her station, I can see that Nicole never misses a car, extending a welcoming hello to everyone at the Costa community and beyond. It is so warming to know that someone is consistently making an effort to brighten the day for others.”
Mitchell hopes to leave people throughout the community with the idea of believing in themselves. Although it may seem difficult to keep going at points, she hopes that people continue to have faith and never give up.
“I love everyone in the community, I love the kids,” Mitchell expressed. “And I tell everyone, I’m not just a crossing guard out there. I know these kids’ parents, I know these kids’ grandparents. I try to get to know everyone, and I just enjoy every day getting to see my kids and their parents. I just love it, and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.”
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