I never expected my first job would be at a pizza restaurant, but there I was, riding in the car with my mom, on the way to the first day at my new job. The entire drive to Mellow Mushroom, I pictured how my first shift would go. I imagined it would be dull and I would be watching the clock, waiting for it to be over the whole time. This won’t be fun, but at least I’m getting paid. That’s what I kept telling myself.

We parked along the sidewalk, and I opened the car door. “Good luck, you will do great. Love you!” my mom said as I stepped out of the car.

This much I knew: I was hired as a hostess/busser, which meant I would be seating the customers and cleaning the tables each time they left. That day I was working as a busser. I entered through the front door, immediately hit with bright colors. I walked past tables and booths that were different shades of purple and red. Fairy lights of the same shades lit the ceiling. On the left side, a wall decorated with records and a long bar with stools caught my eye. Tables and an abstract mural adorned the other side of the room. I headed to the back to clock in. Once my shift started, I met the hostess, Kristina, near the entrance. Right away she was friendly and approachable. We shared with each other where we went to school, and she asked me if I had any questions. The conversation broke when I had to go clean my first table. The rest of the shift flew by. I fell into a routine: talk to Kristina, then clean the tables as customers left. Every time I returned, Kristina and I flowed right back into conversation. She was the kind of person who made you feel as though you had known her for many years.

Within the next couple of weeks, I had a consistent shift schedule. I worked on Wednesdays after school and Sunday mornings to help with opening. At first, having to meet all my new coworkers filled me with anxiety. I worked with servers, other hosts, and managers, all older than me. I worried about making mistakes or just simply not fitting in. The restaurant had so many moving parts, new things to learn, and the constant smell of pizza. However, my coworkers made me feel welcomed and answered all my questions. Soon I recognized faces, held conversations, and laughed with people during the slow moments. Some of my coworkers quickly became friends, and I began to become part of the Mellow Mushroom family.

Working at this restaurant became something I looked forward to. It was unusually refreshing to experience a professional environment with people I didn’t know; I was able to be whoever I wanted. As I talked to my coworkers more, I began to connect with them. This made my job significantly more enjoyable. When I’m there, I feel older, more mature. Being responsible for this job is fulfilling. Three months ago, I was scared that getting a job would feel like chores and would be boring, but now it’s a highlight of my week. This job ended up being exciting and beneficial in so many ways. I’m learning important skills about the job field that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my childhood into adulthood.

© Carolyn. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.