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I'm sure we can all agree, whether you've worked in one or not, that working in a drive-thru is hard. From the moment you hear the headset go off to the moment that car drives off can be chaotic and stressful. It's stressful enough without someone in the drive-thru forgetting how a drive-thru works. I just started a new job working in a drive-thru, and I have come across a lot of people who seem to forget how a drive-thru works.

Know your order. In order for the drive-thru to run smoothly, you have to know what you want in advanced. I can't play twenty questions with you over the speaker when I have people to serve inside as well. Even if you don't quite know, you should be able to make a quick decision. If you really can't decide on what you want, you should just come into the building so the drive-thru can keep moving

Use the speaker to place your order so I can have it ready for you when you pull up. I'm not sure if some people are just in too much of a rush or what, but in order for me to know you are there, you have to place your order in the speaker attached to the giant menu before the window. If you pull up to the window before ordering I will have no idea you are there and you will be waiting a while before I see you.

Keep your order small. You shouldn't be ordering everything off the menu in the drive-thru. The drive-thru is supposed to be for quick, on the go ordering. If it takes me 20 minutes to make your order because you ordered 5 different coffees all made specific ways, I'm going to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off. It also slows down the drive-thru, which makes everyone behind you mad. I know I'm never happy when I go through a drive-thru and it takes forever for me to get up to the window. Come in and order, it will be easier for everyone.

Pull close to the window. I understand driving up to a window can be a little tricky, but you shouldn’t be so far away that I have to physically come out of the window to give you what you ordered. If I have to stretch, fine, but my whole body needs to stay in the window. I promise I won’t bite you.

Speak up. Listening to someone talk to a speaker can be difficult, but it's even harder to hear you if you don't speak up. If I ask you to repeat yourself, make sure you speak a little bit louder. Also, make sure you don't speak too fast, I am trying to write down what you are saying and I can't get your order right if you talk a mile a minute. Face the speaker, and speak clearly. I know, personally, I get nervous ordering in a drive-thru. Take a deep breath, and focus on what you are saying.

Cover Image Credit: Jenny Cestnik / Flickr

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I Woke up In The Middle Of The Night To Write About My Fears, They're Worse Than The Dark

One minute I'm thinking about what I want to do after college next thing I know I'm remembering the time I tried talking to a boy and choked on my spit.

Emily Henrichs

Emily Henrichs Jul 16, 2018

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It is one of those nights when I am tired, but for some reason, I can't seem to fall asleep. So, what do I do? I pull out my laptop, and I begin to write. Who knows where it will lead. It could lead to a killer article or something that does not make sense. I mean it is almost 2 A.M. In my mind, that's pretty late.

Anyways, let's do this thing.

Like many people, thoughts seem to pile up in my head at this time. It could be anything from a time when I was younger to embarrassing stories to wondering why I am "wasting" my time somewhere to thoughts about the future. All of these things come at me like a wildfire. One minute I'm thinking about what I want to do after college next thing I know I'm remembering the time I tried talking to a boy and choked on my spit.

The thought that is going through my mind as I write this is about the future. It's about the future of my fears. Let me explain. I have multiple fears. Some of my fears I can hide pretty well, others I am terrible at hiding. My fears may seem silly to some. While others might have the same fears. Shall we start?

1. My career

I don't know where to begin with this one. For as long as I can remember, my consistent dream job has been working in the world of sports, specifically hockey. A career in sports can be and is a challenging thing. The public eye is on you constantly. A poor trade choice? Fans are angry. Your team sucks? "Fans" are threatening to cheer for someone else if you can't get your sh*t together. You can be blamed for anything and everything. Whether you are the coach, general manager, owner, it does not matter. That's terrifying to me, but for some reason, I want to work for a team.

2. My family

Julie Fox

Failing with my family, whether that be the family I was born into or my future family, it terrifies me. I have watched families around me fall apart and I have seen how it has affected them. Relationships have fallen apart because of it. I have heard people talk about how much they hate one of their parents because of what happened. I don't want that.

3. Time

This could be a dumb fear. I'm not sure, but I fear time. With every minute that passes, I am just another minute closer to the end. With every day that passes that I am not accomplishing goals or dreams I have, I am losing precious time. It scares me to think of something horrible like "What if I die tomorrow because of something horrific?" or even worse, "What if I don't make it through today?" It's terrible, I know.

4. Forgetting precious memories

When I was younger, I had brain surgery. It is now much harder for me to remember things. I am truly terrified that I am going to forget things I will want to hold close to me forever, but I won't be able to. I am scared I'll forget about the little things that mean a lot. I'm afraid of forgetting about old memories that may disappear. I'm worried that I'll forget about something like my wedding day. That might seem out of this world, but it's a reality for me.

5. Saying "goodbye"

I hate saying bye. It is one of my least favorite things. Saying bye, especially to people I don't know when I'll see again, is a stab in the heart for me. I love my people so much. I love being around them. I love laughing with them. Thought of never having a hello with them again scares me beyond belief.

6. Leaving places that I love

Alright, let me start off by saying this- it takes a lot for me to love a place. It has to feel like home. It has to make me feel comfortable. It has to be a place I can go to and be myself. Thankfully, I have had and still have multiple places that are like that. I have also had places I could not wait to leave. I think that's why leaving places I love is so hard and something I fear so much. I am afraid I'll never get that place "back", for lack of a better term. I guess, I'm trying to say, it's like a piece of me is leaving as well.

These six things are just the start of my fears. Some of these might seem "dumb" or "ridiculous" to you, but for me, it's my life. These are the things that I think about the most. These are the things that feel like a pit in my stomach. These six things are parts of my life that mean a lot to me.

Cover Image Credit:

Emily Heinrichs

Emily Henrichs

Emily Henrichs Jul 16, 2018

At Illinois State University

An Open Letter to Soda

You're both good and bad, but you never fail to satisfy me.

Konner Donté Watson

Konner Donté Watson Jul 20, 2018

70

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Dear soda,

How do I even begin to describe my connection to you? I have shared countless moments with you that we're both my best and my worst. Above all, you fill me up better than water, milk and juice ever do. And even though you're as equally unhealthy as alcohol is (no offense), you're always the safer, if not the most refreshing choice. But even so, you give me more calories than I want in one meal, although burning off that kind of energy is second nature to me.

Before I lavish you with compliments and thank you for cooling me down on hot summer days, it's time to get the unpalatable truth about you and nutrition, soda. You're a primary reason why I'm not in the best shape of my life. Every time I try to have that extra little bit of muscle, you end up setting me back. It's so easy for me to crave for you, because of how delicious you are, and the sugar high you give me is absolutely amazing compared to what I get eating candy and all those other sweets.

I know it's really puzzling for a writer like me to be writing an open letter to a beverage, but you're actually a pretty big part of my life. Why? Because you don't just quench my thirst on hot days, or affect my upset stomach for better or worse, you give me just a smidgen more energy than coffee and tea do. The caffeine in you isn't good for me in the long run, but I need it on a regular basis so I don't zone out during my classes. Honestly, without you, I don't feel as uninhibited as I like to be.

What I love the most about you is that you come in numerous flavors, and even though it's scientifically proven to be ineffective and also tastes worse than gruel, you come in diet form. In every restaurant and cafeteria, you get your own fountain, and students like myself prefer to go there instead of the coffee machines. The hiss of fizz when I open you up makes my mouth water, chills go up my spine and I never resist that first taste of your sugary carbon. Out of all the flavors you offer, I love root beer, cream soda, grape, orange, ginger ale and Dr. Pepper the most. The possibilities with you are so endless.

Soda, the best thing you've ever done for is satisfy me when I didn't feel satisfied.

From one of your many friends,

Konner Donté Watson

Cover Image Credit:

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/01/25/08/14/beverages-3105631_960_720.jpg

Konner Donté Watson

Konner Donté Watson Jul 20, 2018

At Endicott College