After my freshman year of college, I moved back home and started working at a local ice cream shop. I didn’t know how much of a blessing this simple job would be in my life. A year and a half later I have learned so much. Here are four unexpected things I have learned during my time there.

1. Be kind no matter what.

Sometimes people can be rude or frustrating. When those people happen to be your customers, you have to still be nice to them. It didn’t take long for me to go from having to be kind to wanting to be kind. You never know how someone’s day is going and why they are acting the way they are. Being kind to someone even though they aren’t kind to you back might just change their day. I have found that kindness is always the answer.

2. Tipping is a really nice thing to do.

Before personally getting tipped at my job, I never really thought about tipping people other than waiters/waitresses. I have come to realize that a tip can be a huge blessing no matter what the service is. Now whenever I go somewhere and there’s a tip cup, I put something in it even if it’s just the change I get back. When you tip someone I promise it doesn’t go unappreciated

3. You can find art in anything.

I knew from a young age that when I got a job, I wanted to do the following things: make people happy, enjoy myself while I was working, and be creative in whatever I was doing. When I started working here, I knew that I would be making people happy (obviously) and enjoying myself, but I didn’t think I would find creativity in my work. Boy, was I wrong! Do you know how much art goes into something as simple as an ice cream cone? A lot. Banana splits are my personal favourite to make. I think they take the most creativity.

4. There is something to learn in every situation.

Okay, maybe I already knew this before I started working here, but this job reenforced that. I have learned so many things that I can take with me and use in for the rest of my life.