Now that April has come around again, people are starting to line up at their favorite local ice cream shop for a cool and tasty treat. Personally, I am getting excited because as a professional ice cream scooper myself, it’s one of the best times of year. The tips get better, customers become regular, you form such great relationships with your coworkers, and you have such a fun job. Here are 14 things that any ice cream scooper can relate to in some way or another.

1. Sprinkles, sprinkles, sprinkles.

Not only will you have the jimmies vs sprinkles debate with a customer at least twice a shift, but those rainbow and chocolate guys seem to find their way into everything, ultimately creating a big mess. (For the record, jimmies are chocolate, and sprinkles are rainbow.)

2. You have probably had your fair share of mishaps at the frappe machine.

If you're anything like me, you launched a frapped all over yourself while serving a really cute guy who also happens to point out the mess you just made.

3. Your scooping arm is far superior than your non-scooping arm.

My right arm will always be rock solid compared to my limp noodle of a left arm.

4. The struggle you face when there is a huge line at your window but the party you're serving asks to sample 15 different flavors.

And the frustration that ensues when they order a completely different flavor from their samples.

5. "I changed my mind, can I get this flavor instead?"

One of the more frustrating customer statements when you have already made their original order.

6. There are some customers with really creative orders out there.

More likely than not, peanut butter ice cream paired with pineapple sauce probably won't taste the best.

7. Hard ice cream

You're probably thinking that ice cream is supposed to be hard. Any scooper will know that I'm referring to those ice cream flavors that are rock solid no matter how hard you try and make it easier to scoop.

8. A shift does not go by without the shattering of a sugar cone.

Sugar cones are extremely temperamental and break so easily and so often that it isn’t even funny. Over time you have learned how to hold the cone to avoid and minimize breakage, but it doesn’t always work.

9. Frappes, banana splits, sundaes galore!

You have a love hate relationship with these specialty ice cream treats. Although you know how to make them perfectly, they are so time consuming that you often find yourself struggling to make them flawlessly every single time.

10. You have that one thing on the menu that you absolutely dread making.

For me, it is any type of frappe, especially those that are extra thick. It is so much work to make and more often than not it squirts back on you and the people you are sharing the frappe machine with.

11. You always come home covered in ice cream.

Anything and everything you can spill on yourself, you will, no matter how hard you try to keep yourself clean. You are always sticky due to the various ice cream, hot fudge, and sundae toppings covering your shirt. At the end of shift you are convinced there is more ice cream on you that you sold that night.

12. You have the menu memorized and have tried every single flavor at least once.

You can give your honest opinion on every flavor your shoppe carries, some obviously being better than others. Graham central station and black bear are pretty big hits but, there are also some rather unconventional flavors such as ginger and butter crunch that aren’t as tasty. Knowing all of the flavors and what they taste like can help your customers make decisions as you can give a detailed description of any given flavor.

13. You have at least four favorite flavors of ice cream.

Personally my all time favorite is cookie dough ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. However I also find myself telling customers that graham central station, black bear, coffee heath bar crunch, or watermelon sherbet are also my favorites. It all depends on the day.

14. At the end of the day, there is no other job that you would rather have.

You arguably have one of the best summer jobs out there. You get so close to your fellow crew members, who always know how to have a good time. Some of your fondest summer memories were made in the dairy bar.