“It's all about people.”

For the last 26 years, Tyrone Bryant has been working as a station agent in the New York City subway system.

Tyrone, a Brooklynite since the day he was born, started his journey at CCNY College where he earned a degree in communications. Out of college, Tyrone bounced around jobs ranging from an insurance agent to a Wall Street Investor, before deciding he wanted a more permanent and stable career path. He turned to municipalities and started studying the city exams, where he became fluent in the subway system and had to learn how to deal with customers. Coming from a long line of municipal workers, ranging from sanitation workers to firemen, Tyrone knew entering the field would be more of a career than a job.

The first job that he heard back from was to be a station agent (the people who work in the booths in the NYC subway), so he jumped on the opportunity and began studying for the MTA Station Agent Exam. They tested him mostly on geography, knowledge of the city, and communication skills, the core tenets of the job. When Tyrone first joined the system, the station he was located at and his tasks varied day-to-day.

“I've been through probably about 90% of the stations in New York City,” he said.

Even now, Tyrone is shocked by the size and efficiency of the system, which he said rides about a million people during rush hour.

“I consider it the eighth wonder of the world.”

The longer he has stayed in municipality, however, and with the more seniority he has accrued he has been able to have some more autonomy over his decisions. Nine years ago he decided to stay stationed at the booth of the Carroll St F and G train line, where he now comes five days a week.

Tyrone says the job is very rewarding. To be able to help someone: a lost customer, someone in distress, a sick passenger, the impact he is able to have on them, and hearing them tell him “thank you,” makes it all worth it for Tyrone.

“It lets you know that you, you know, you're doing your job you're needed”

Tyrone’s favorite part of the job is the people. He says that community means everything in his job. From his career he has learned a lot about people, and how to deal with all kinds of customers, including angry ones. But nonetheless, Tyrone has been able to foster a nice community from the comfort of his booth.

In just a short 45 minutes dozens of customers stop to say “Hi,” to Tyrone. His secret? Kindness.

“Hello and goodbye. It's simple. It's how you treat your customer really. I'm sure you've gone to many different places and seen no one as friendly as me.”

Through these strategies, he’s gotten to know many of the regulars who go through the station every day. He helps the community out and they help him back out in return, it’s a trade of sorts.

Although he is getting older now, and has plans to retire, Tyrone says he’d never get sick of doing what he is doing.

“If I were tired I would have gone a long time ago. I love doing what I do.”