Last year, I took it upon myself to find my first real, paid, in-person job over the summer. I looked primarily for part-time positions that were nearby. After applying to a number of places, I found one that would let me start the earliest and would also be the most convienent of my options: a part-time job as a "staff member" at Checkers - a small fast-food chain that is franchised nationwide (although in some states and regions, the name is replaced with Rally's).
Upon the day of my interview, I had a good look at the restaurant. It was terribly small, had zero seating space, and was operated as solely a "drive-thru". Although it was inaccessible by car, the purpose of the drive-thru was solely for people to walk up to the restaurant, order what they wanted, and leave. This made it seem more like a food stand than an actual restaurant.
However, the interview went flawlessly, and I was offered the job on the spot, with my training beginning that day. It seemed so overwhelming at first - like so many other young adults, having not been responsible for the chores in my home, I had no idea how to properly clean, take out garbage, or even organize a work space. And these were certainly not things we were taught in school, either.
Although the job seemed overwhelming, it would be the most hands-on experience of my life. It wasn't often that I would stop thinking and effectively using my brain, and instead apply physical strength and will in order to get things done. And it's not like I had one defined role at the place, either - I would have to learn how to cook, package food, and make and serve drinks, alongside having to clean, make sure the workplace was neat and tidy, and effectively communicate with both customers and co-workers - some of whom couldn't speak fluent English. After having realized this, while the job may not have been to my liking or even for a person like me, it provided me with invaluable life experience that would serve me well into my adulthood, and I can't thank myself enough for having delved into that opportunity when it was given to me.
