I'd like to start off by saying that it really does take a special person to be in customer service. Not everyone is cut out for the job, but they still try it anyway. I've been working at the same place for three and a half years now, and I have been a waitress there for nearly two and a half years of it. It's been a job that got me through my senior year of high school, a year off, and now my first two years of college. I've learned a lot about myself from being a waitress, and as much as my job drives me crazy 99.9 percent of the time, I'm thankful for the time I've spent there.

My job as shown me the good, the bad and the ugly in people. Whether it be from coworkers or customers, every time I think I've seen it all, I get proven wrong.

People are crazy, selfish, and rude and I have no problem saying it. One thing about being a waitress that some people must not realize is that I don't control the prices of the restaurant. I've had a customer scream at me (and I mean scream) because he had to pay $0.75 for a thing of ranch dressing. He cussed me out left and right for not telling him that a pack of ranch was going to cost him extra (even though it says that in the menu, and I didn't tell him prices for anything else he ordered). Yet, I was the one who apologized and offered to pay the cost of his ranch for him, because that's how customer service goes.

I've also had customers interrupt me while I'm taking care of another table. I've had customers yell at me for us being out of something in the kitchen. I've seen coworkers be nasty to each other and just scream at each other for who knows what reason. I've witnessed drama like you wouldn't believe in the dining room and kitchen. I have a countless number of stories I could tell about people who were just downright nasty to each other, or to myself, but I don't have the time.

On the other hand, I've experienced some of the kindest, most thoughtful, sweetest people you'll come in contact with. There was one night that I was the only server at work and we got swamped. I mean every single table was full, and there was a line going out the door. A lady at a table I had stopped me and said "let me help you." As you can imagine, I was rather confused and she said again "I was a waitress, let me help you clear off tables." I refused and told her thank you but that I would be okay. The lady looked at me and said "honey, you either get me a tray or I'll start carrying dishes up to set on the counter." I laughed and just walked away to work on other things; well, sure enough she started setting dishes on the counter when I didn't take her a tray.

From being put in situations where people can either people incredibly rude or incredibly nice, I've learned a lot about myself. My job has forced me to do some personal growth.

I hate small talk, but I'm forced to do it at my job. I've learned to not just deal with being catcalled, but to stand up for myself in a polite but firm way. I've learned to stare a rude customer in the eyes with a smile on my face, but I've also learned to tell people that I don't appreciate how they are treating me. I've learned that coworkers at any job can be your best friends, or they can smile in your face and turn around and talk down on you. I've learned that when I'm under a lot of pressure and stress, I tend to snap on the people who care about me; I've learned it's something I don't like about myself and that I need to work on it. I've learned that my parents raised me to have an incredible work ethic that I take pride in, but not everyone shares that same work ethic. I've learned to ask for help when I need it, rather than let myself drown.

Long story short, every job has it's ups and downs. However, every job will teach you something about yourself if you let it. Take the hard times with a grain of salt, and remember that tomorrow is another day. Find some people who care about you and push through together. Don't stay at a job where you're being treated poorly day in and day out, but do realize that no job is perfect.

Do your job, work hard, take the bad with the good, and learn from the experience.