Dear My Minimum Wage Job,

I know I told you I hated you at least four times a day. I'm not gonna lie, you're still not my first choice as a job, but you were a job, and you taught me oh so much.

All throughout my 19 years I never had a "proper job." Sure, I babysat and walked dogs for some extra money during the summer, but I didn't have a steady paycheck. I'm not sure if it was because I was lazy, didn't care, or because of my social anxiety. Maybe it was a little mix of everything.

The summer after my freshman year of college, the laying around during summer was over. I needed money to pay for my books (and SupDogs), and unfortunately the $50 I got from babysitting wasn't going to cut it. I applied to a dozen places, but you know how it goes, you need experience for a job, but you can't get a job without experience. I was feeling very discouraged. You were a random shot in the dark, a last resort, but you took a shot with me.

Not gonna lie, for the first week of work I was so stressed that I couldn't eat, and I had nightmares of being late and forgetting my uniform, and working in my underwear. It was awful, but I needed the money so I persevered.

As the weeks went on, I (slowly) caught on to the routine and learned the tips and tricks to make it easier. Luckily for me, I had an amazing group of people to work with, making it even easier for me. There were days where I went to work, absolutely dreading it, but knowing that I worked with people who were genuinely helpful and fun to be with, got me through the shifts.

After only three short months, I saw myself changing. My family saw me change, for the better. I had more confidence and broke out of my shell. I also learned how to carry several dishes at once, so thanks for that fun party trick. Having you as my first job, being so demanding and fast-paced was not what I wanted, but exactly what I needed.

I'll low-key miss you, and everyone that I worked with and met during my short time there. While we were only together for three months, the lessons I learned and memories I made will stick with me forever.

Much Love,

Ashley