I know we may seem like nothing more than maybe a name tag to you, but remember we are humans too. Next time you talk to your customer service person at school, remember these few things.

1. We have feelings too

Feeling stressed out about your upcoming midterm this week? Chances are the person working on the other side of the counter is experiencing the same thing. All the struggles you may be facing as a student have either gone through or are experiencing at the moment as well.

2. Put the phone down

Please, there is nothing worse than being in a three-way conversation with your customer and whoever else is on their other line. Don’t put your fingers up and tell them, “Shh one moment.” You came to them for their services. They are trying to help you and probably have a growing line of angy midterm stressed people behind you. Take the moment and pause your phone call and interact with the world in front of you. Then a minute later, you can be swooped back into whatever gossip you were in the midst of exchanging.

3. You see that tin can over there? Well, use it

I’m not your Friday garbage man. Please don’t leave your trash at my workstation. For the next six hours, this is my home, my domain. You would not like it if you had someone come over and place their leftover mealn scraps in your house, never telling you. You are not four years old anymore, pick up the messes you leave behind.

4. Cap your steam engine

We all have bad days. Most of the time we are faking the smile we are wearing just to get ourselves through the day and give you respect. We understand that things do not always go perfectly. We have the same flesh and blood that you have. If something happens that is out of our control, as employees, do not take it out on us. Do not start screaming and pounding your fist on the desk. We are doing our best that we can to help you. Respect that there are things that are out of our control. Don’t explode on the innocent person across from you who is just as stressed out in school and is still forcing that smile and trying to help.

5. Yes, there are such things as stupid questions

Please. Just think before you ask your question. And please, don't ask me questions that have nothing at all to do with our job. Nope, I don't know what cafeteria's special is today...I don't even work near there.

6. We really deserve more then we get paid for

I always hear people talk smack about people who work minimum wage jobs. So listen up folks, it's not as glamorous as you may imagine a low paying job to be. A low paying job does not mean a low level of work. I work minimum wage and I find myself having regular police phone calls from events at work, dealing with insanely emotional situations that affect me, and getting yelled at way too much. $10.25 is not enough to be someone’s punching bag for six hours.

7. This is not a life or death situation

Unless you have a hit man around the corner looking for you, it is never acceptable to ask an employee to work faster. We see the line behind you. We will be as quick as we can while doing our job correctly. Please respect that may not be done in Superman speed of time.

8. Ring that bell more than once and we will have war

I understand how that silver round device in from of you must be eye-catching. How the sunlight coming in from the window sparkles off it. But you only need to hit it once. I repeat. Do not hit the bell multiple non-stop times. The sound is pretty much the intro song to a horror film for us.

9. We don’t bite

Please feel free to talk to us. During a solo six-hour shift in the morning, a little interaction goes a long way.

10. Break time is me time

Do you have a long school day that you need to just take some you time? Well, after a long school and work day, those 15 minutes are special. Please give us the respect and do not interrupt us during breaks to help you. There is someone else always who can.