To my supervisors through the years,

Aw man, it's been three years. And though I've had more than three supervisors in my years at my amusement park, I will be acknowledging only you three. Why? Because you three made a significant change in my life. Not only my work life but my everyday life as well. So before I get to the individual messages, I would like to thank you for being my leaders, my role models, and my friends. I couldn't have done anything without your guidance, criticism, and sometimes tough love. You guys were, and still are, all great. I'm going to talk about the lessons you taught me individually because you all had your own unique personalities. You all taught me something different. I will be calling you by codename because I said so and want to.

Merch Protein,

When I was a cashier three years ago, you were my first supervisor. I was scheduled to do day roving, and I had only ever done it twice before. You set me up with a cart of bubble guns, a shoulder bag of ice cream, and a shoulder bag of cutely colored parasols. Much to my dismay, you also set me up with a headset microphone for me to advertise the products. You released me into the park, ensuring that I would sell a whole lot, to return often for more stuff. However, you knew. You knew that I was a shy nugget, that I probably wouldn't use the microphone very well. So you followed me, at least I think you did. I know this because as I rounded the carousel, you appeared in front of me, out of nowhere, with this wicked grin on your face. You said to me "I can't hear you! Gimme your best sales pitch!", and I was so flabbergasted I didn't know what to say. I was practically frozen because I was so embarrassed. There were just too many people, I couldn't just SHOUT about products. After 30 seconds or so of silence, you shrugged and said "Good luck!" and skipped away back into the store. Do you know what that was to me? That was a challenge. Unconsciously, I took it as a challenge that I would win. So I started using the microphone. I started talking to the guests and using my snazzy sense of persuasion. Even years after that, you continuously challenged me to make me feel good about myself. You did it in the smallest of ways, but by George, you did it. You taught me how to bust out of my shell like it was leg day, and I made it out. You taught me that self-esteem is very much a thing, and I shouldn't break myself apart, even if I think it's for fun.

Roving Queen,

You were my second supervisor in my small cashier existence, and you taught me the ins and outs of being a Team Leader when I was promoted. You were an awesome asset with training me to do my job, since I knew you and you were just a really chill person. What stands out when I think of you? Well, you were like a finely seasoned soldier. You didn't take crap from anybody. You were the master of keeping it real and not beating around the bush when somebody goofed up. You explained the situation how it was and you made sure that we knew what you meant, and made sure you had our word to fix ourselves up. You were honest about everybody's work ethic, and you had the best sense of humor. When you weren't a soldier of retail, you were relaxed. Even when there was a lot of work to do, and you were really stressed out, you shrugged it off and said that you'd be able to get it done. You also nurtured my anxiety in the best of ways. You knew I was waaaaay more stressed out than I needed to be, and you knew how to turn the anxiety faucet off. I remember the one time I messed up with a guest's credit card, and I tried to improvise, and holy crap it didn't work. I cried under my sunglasses because the experience with the guest wasn't necessarily that great, and I knew I messed up. Bad. What did you say to me? "Dude. You don't have to take that. So what if you messed up the transaction, we can fix it. We can always fix it. Don't let that guy get to you. You're stronger than that." You taught me how to take a breath. You also taught me that I don't have to take anybody's negativity.

The Juggler

You're the last person I'm going to recognize in my sappy article, I hope that's okay! I really clicked with you as a team because we both had the same anxieties about our jobs, even though you were a supervisor and I was just your Team Leader. I don't think I ever saw you frown a lot. You always had some form of a smile on your face, which I didn't recognize much until the last day I was there. I remember a lot of times when I was stressed out, you told me a joke. It was out of nowhere, and you would juggle random things from the roving shed in order to bring some light back into my shift. I especially remember the time there was a spider in my shoe, a big whopper of a spider, and you just laughed at me for a while. I mean, I was traumatized. I was beating the heck out of my shoe on the wall and you just laughed about it. The thing is, I'm not even mad that you laughed. When you think about it, it's hilarious! Who doesn't notice a spider in their shoe for TWO HOURS?! When you told me your jokes, your good ol' knee slappers, I began to reciprocate. Remember my pirate jokes? Yea man, I still have a couple up my sleeve. You were trustworthy, you were honest, and you were as nervous about write-ups as I am. You always made me feel great about my work, and I really appreciated it. I knew that I was a good asset to the team, because your thumbs-up and witty banter made me enjoy my job. Overall, what did you teach me? There was no story like the others, just some quips of the good times. Honestly, there doesn't need to be a giant heartwarming story, because the good you did for me was spread throughout the whole summer, elongated and in doses. You taught me to laugh. At myself, at my job, and at all the negativity in my life.

So, what's the moral of the story here? Well, now that I'm a bit older and I'm a supervisor myself, here's what I can tell you. Now I tell kids to get active with the microphone; I'm the one that shows them how to be an ecstatic and persuasive salesperson. Now I'm the one that has to be the strong backbone for the zone, and I can't afford to doubt and pity myself. Now I know how to take my job with a grain of salt, and be as optimistic as I can be. In the end, it's more than just the overall job experience that gave me such a strong personality. It's you. And I will never forget that.