[ SECOND Environmental Portrait 2/3] Late afternoon at Connections.

By Zanir Freeman Make up for #2

📸 Portrait: Jane Johnson Where I met her: I met Jane at The Connections during a long day of traveling. My options for running into someone new were limited, but I still ended up having a good conversation with her that made it worth it. Name: Jane Johnson What she does: Jane doesn’t actually live at The Connections — she was visiting a friend who does. She’s from Brunswick and works at Cracker Barrel, where she’s getting ready to move into a corporate role with the company. What she told me: “I’ve been with Cracker Barrel for a while now, and I’ve seen all sides of the job — the good and the hectic. But that’s kind of what taught me how to handle people and stay patient. Now I’m getting the chance to move into the corporate side of things, and honestly, it feels like all the long shifts and hard days are starting to pay off. I’m excited for what’s next.” The photo: We stepped outside to take the photo in the daylight. Jane stood confidently, with a relaxed smile that matched the energy of our quick but genuine conversation. The background was simple — part of the apartment complex and the afternoon sky — but it fit. She looked focused, like someone who knows her next move and is ready to make it.