High school has always been hard for me. I didn't have many friends, I didn't get along with the kids in my grade, and I never seemed to fit in with the various groups of people. When I applied for a job at a local grocery store, I never thought it would end up being the best thing that would happen to me.
I made friends. I became a happy person. I didn't feel like I needed to change who I was to fit in.
Upon making friends with the people at Goretti's, I started going out more. Makayla, Cait, Lauren, Emilee, Ryan, Felix, and Sean became my best friends. I started going to carnivals, graduations, movies, concerts, dinners, and so many more things with them. Makayla taught me how to love myself, and she taught me how many people actually love me. Cait taught me how to go out and live my life to the fullest. Lauren taught me about style and confidence, and how to rock a killer lip color. Emilee taught me how to stand up for myself, and how to never give up on something you want in life. Ryan taught me about true friendships and feelings, and he taught me how people should treat each other. Felix taught me how to be crazy and laugh at just about everything that happens. Sean helped me understand that the real world doesn't start until high school ends. If it wasn't for my job, I probably wouldn't have met the people I now call my best friends.
Not only did my job help me make friends, but it also helped me support myself financially. As a seventeen-year-old high school student, I feel that I shouldn't have to ask my parents for twenty dollars to go to the movies with my friends, or seventy-five dollars for new shoes. Paying for my own things has helped me become more independent and responsible. It's helped me grow up. Paying for things has also helped me budget how much I can spend in a day, or when I can and can't go out depending on when my paycheck enters my bank account.
Lastly, my job taught me time management. Having a schedule and an agenda helps me plan my week out ahead of time, instead of planning things hour to hour. Although plans do get cancelled from time to time, making them in advance helps with less stress and higher probability that you will hangout with the person you're planning to hangout with. Getting a job has helped me strategize, and it has helped me start to write things down in an agenda - overall, making me so much more organized.
I love my job, and I am so thankful for everything it has given me. It gave me friends, money, and responsibility, all of which are so important to me.
Thank you to the best bosses and coworkers ever, and shout out to Goretti's Supermarket.
Twitter: @maddynaultt
Instagram: @maddynault
Snapchat: @maddynault0607
