As summer approaches, college students return to their part-time jobs. I would like to raise a spatula to those who work in the food industry. Why is it that we always look down on working in fast food or even just in a restaurant? I’ve often overheard that kids these days needed to go to college so they don’t end up “flipping burgers” or that they need to stay in school and get a real job so they don’t succumb to that same, tragic fate. I have a problem with this logic, if that’s what I would even call it. I would like to acknowledge that the hidden meaning behind this threat is that if you don’t go to college and get a degree, you won’t be making more than minimum wage. Which is likely true, at first. But, there is always growth in jobs. I know Sheetz has an incredibly high starting pay of $9.78 as a cashier. And it’s only up from there. So, when I hear people say that we shouldn’t end up “flipping burgers” because they don’t pay enough, that statement is now being proven wrong.

More important than money, I think the insult here is that we shouldn’t be telling people that “flipping burgers” is shameful, that there’s no value in it. When we hear that someone works in a fast food restaurant or caters, we instantly are guilty of judging that person and thinking they are inferior. But I’m here to tell you that I know many people who work in the food industry, and they love it! They find a real satisfaction in serving customers and making sure they get fast service that is also safe to eat. I have a friend who works at McDonalds, and she LOVES her job. After graduation, she looks forward to the satisfaction she feels while serving people their breakfast on a Saturday morning. Or, another person I know works at Chipotle, and she is very proud of it. Why must we say that working in these fast food places is the worst that could happen to us? As a society, we need people to have these jobs. As long as we want fast service, we should be celebrating those who work starting at minimum wage, barely recognized for a job well-done and who feel ashamed to say where they work.

I’ve worked at a restaurant for about three years, and I’ve washed dishes, catered, waitressed and cooked. Every Saturday and Sunday morning of my senior year was dedicated to that place. My summers and vacations were dedicated to cooking for that small town. So, where’s the shame? I felt great pride in knowing I did a good job: and isn’t that the important thing? Why do we shame those who work in the service industry? Even more so, the stereotype of cafeteria works is crude. Many people look back on their cafeteria experiences and remember the employees as mean, grouchy, old ladies. But, the majority of the cafeteria workers I’ve ever met, too, love their jobs and could never imagine spending their lives doing anything else.

Simply put, the change I am looking to make is that, instead of shaming food industry workers, we should applaud them and thank them for their hard work. And to those college students who flipped burgers to get themselves through college, I raise my spatula to you.