"Don't judge a book by its cover."

It's a quote we're all familiar with. Since we took our first few rocky steps during our diaper-wearing years and looked up at our parents with huge, innocent eyes, we have been informed not to have preconceived ideas about others based on their appearance. I bet if I took a poll and asked my friends and acquaintances if they admittedly thought less of someone based on what the person was wearing, most people would say that it would be highly immoral and hypocritical to judge another's external features. "It's what's on the inside that counts!" You're probably nodding your head in agreement right now.

Let's take a look at this picture. I, Macy Scott, am standing in the drive-thru of Raising Cane's, my part-time job. I am wearing a bright colored, neatly-ironed shirt that is tucked into my dark jeans. A visor sits on my head, brushing back my tight ponytail that bobs as I open the window. I smile at the customer, my clear lip gloss beaming as I remember that payday is approaching. I gently hand the lady her meal, politely waving goodbye. I am doing my job, and I am working in order to bring back some extra cash when I return for my sophomore year at Baylor University in the fall.

My happy-go-lucky work day is popped like a pin in a helium balloon when a sharp finger is pointed at me in response. On this particular day, it finally happened. After three years of gaining customer relationships, bragging about how much fun my job was, and truly enjoying clocking into work every day, my bubble burst. For years, I had been told how great I sounded over the headset. I gained friendships with many customers, and I even memorized many of the usuals' orders. On this particular day, the customer's words as she looked me in my eye echoed in my mind for several moments.

"You suck!"

Two little words. That's all it took. Apparently, a chicken finger was missing from her combo. And to the person reading this, a stranger telling me that I suck shouldn't matter that much. I mean, who cares, right? She took out her anger on me because I work at a fast food restaurant, and it shouldn't matter because she deserved to call out the employees on their mistake, right?

Wrong.

The customer did not tell me that I sucked because there was a mistake with her order. The customer told me that I sucked because of the authority that she felt over me. All she saw was a teenager working at a fast-food place, and she had no idea of what kind of person I was on the inside or who I was striving to become. Because her meal was not complete, somehow she felt inclined to inform me that I, as an individual, was less of a person. The lady did not know that I am ahead in my courses at the prestigious Baylor University. Raising Cane's actually encourages my education and allows me to work seasonally as I pursue my future endeavors. The customer did not know that I am a hard-working individual who tries her best at everything. She did not care to wonder any of these things. She did not bite back her tongue with two little words of disrespect... she saw the uniform.

Here's something that society needs to understand: It is impossible to rewrite the past, but the future is unwritten. Whatever anyone is doing in life, it is up to them to better themselves or change their lives down the road. Would someone tell a successful doctor that "they sucked" if they kept them in the waiting room for too long? Would a client angrily wave their finger at their lawyer if they were a little late to a meeting? Well, the person working the drive-thru at a fast-food restaurant could be on the route to becoming a doctor or lawyer. That changes things, doesn't it? And let's not forget that there's longevity in the fast food industry; there are opportunities for growth and great salaries inside these companies. Again, don't let the uniform fool you.

"Don't judge a book by its cover," they say. Who said it? Probably the same woman who looked me in my eye and belittled me, and who will probably go to Chick-fil-A and do the same thing to another college student trying to finish school. We stereotype certain jobs with "success" and other jobs with "failure." Why don't we try realizing that everyone has his or her personal successes, and everyone equally has more room to succeed?

The next time the young guy forgets your ketchup at McDonald's, the cashier at the mall doesn't print your receipt, or the waitress is too preoccupied to refill your drink...stop and think. These are real people working real jobs who have real goals for themselves. The girl at Hooters could be working her way through medical school; don't assume she's simply flaunting her body. The quiet waiter could be growing his own business; don't assume he's living in his mom's basement. The girl at Raising Cane's could be a straight-A student at Baylor University; don't assume that "she sucks."

Don't judge a book by its cover... we've all heard it. So, to the customer who was so quick to judge me because of my uniform, maybe you're the one who sucks!