Anyone who has ever worked as a waitress or anything that involves serving customers can all agree on one thing: you learn a lot about people. Over the summer I worked at a restaurant and bar overlooking the water that was really popular and got a lot of business. I did this to rack up as much cash as possible, just like any other college student in the summer. But what I got out of it was way more than just money, I learned more about people waitressing than I did working retail or just from my regular everyday life.

First things first, I was furious whenever a customer left me with a shitty or no tip at all. I'm sure if you've ever been a server you've experienced this and probably bitched to your coworkers and had this angry pit in your stomach for the rest of your shift. You could be polite and friendly and do everything right, but people will still screw you over intentionally or unintentionally. The fact is, some people just don't know how to tip or don't value others services because they think they're entitled to it. Yes, it's our job as servers to give customers a good experience, but people don't understand that the sole reason we show up to work is to make a living. Not because we want to, but because we have to. And by ignoring that, you're spitting in our faces and telling us that our time and energy isn't as valuable as yours.

Sometimes there's issues beyond our control like the food taking a long time or the order coming out wrong, but hello we're servers not chefs. We're not in the kitchen or at the bar making the food or drinks, yet people are so quick to shoot the messenger as if it's our fault and leave us a bad tip because of it. Through countless bad customers, I saw first hand how badly people mistreat others like it's a reflex. I think people forget that we're not just workers or robots, but we're actual people. We all have lives or something to work for and don't deserve to be belittled or disrespected. You wouldn't want your daughter, sister, brother, or whoever struggling or being talked down to, so don't do it to anyone else. Ever since then, whenever I go out I've become extremely aware of how I treat people and how my friends treat people as well. I won't be caught under tipping or being rude to the staff or letting my friends do so.

Although servers go through a lot, we also get a lot in return. I've met so many amazing and friendly people that shocked me with how easily they got along with someone they barely knew. It was refreshing to have customers that genuinely cared about my day and could strike up a conversation about anything. I think too many people lack basic people skills that are way too important to ignore. And with every great person I met, it influenced me to wanna become that person that could make someone's day with even the smallest random act of kindness.

I never realized how little we think about how we present ourselves or make others feel around us, but I'll never make that mistake again. I can't stress enough how important it is to be not only polite, but also kind and considerate wherever you go. You never know whose day you might ruin or make, so be the person that leaves a positive impression. And please, for the love of god, if you can't afford to tip do not go out to eat. My message to you from servers everywhere.