Being a full-time college student and working two part-time jobs is exhausting, to say the least. Aside from the mountains of homework, the studying for exams, and the early morning classes that we all dread, throw a few six (or more) hour shifts on top of that and boom - you have a tired, emotional, cranky individual who would kill for just a ten minute nap. I’ll admit it, I am that individual. And while it is so very rewarding and satisfying knowing that I am doing something wonderful for myself, there are times where I lose almost all motivation to pull myself out of bed in the morning. But these bad days are outnumbered a hundred to one. Not only is this lifestyle worth it because of the money and the feeling I get from working so hard, but I can truly say that I have met some of the greatest people I have ever known in my entire life, at work. So, to the lovely souls that I have had the pleasure of working with, this is my letter to you.

I love each and every one of you endlessly, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. A lot of you were there before I was, and you took me in and showed me the ropes until I became confident in what I was doing. You took your time while I was learning, to make sure that I was the best that I could be. And since then, we’ve grown so close, and I am so very thankful for that. I can honestly say that when I filled out my application for this job, I was not thinking that I was soon going to be making lifelong friends, as all of you have become. I take pride in my place of work whether it is a good day or a bad day, but even on my bad days, I walk out of that building feeling blessed beyond words for having you all in my life and for having the opportunity to grow with you. We’ve been through so much together - from the bad customers to the good. We cover each other when another has to call out; we stay later than our scheduled shifts to help when it gets chaotic. We give each other rides, bring each other coffee, jump each other’s cars (ha ha). We get on each other’s very last nerves, but at the end of the day, there’s always still a hug and a “drive safe.” I cannot express how much the bond we have together means to me. We’ve seen each other at our worsts, and at our bests. And through it all and everything in between, we show unconditional support and love. I wouldn’t trade the nitpicking or the “I told you so” arguments for anything. You make me laugh when I want to cry and when I do cry, you comfort me and push me to be better. You make the bad days worth it. No matter how overwhelmed I get sometimes, that feeling will never amount to the love I have for all of you. Work is my home away from home and you all mean the world to me. I cannot even begin to imagine my life without this job, or this job without one of you, but the friendship that we have created with one another will last forever, even after we go our separate ways. And I want to thank you for that. I love you all, and I cannot wait to make many more memories with you!