Coming into college, I was determined to find a job. I was tired of fully relying on my parents and wanted to prove that I can survive in the real world. For a while, I was jobless, until my Junior year when I got approved to be a student worker for my college's English department. Rewind to a year before and I had earned a spot as an apprentice at a local tattoo shop. It wasn't an actual job, but it was something that I loved and gave me something to look forward to doing.
I didn't know then, but that one thing would lead me to the job I have now. A year ago I got hired to be a cashier at that same tattoo shop, which also happens to have an adult store attached to the back. Being a cashier may seem like a conventional job but being a cashier where I work is anything but that. With it, I have gained and learned some pretty awesome things in life.
First off, since it is a locally run business, we have very few staff members. There are four cashiers and four artists (two of whom also do piercings). Having such a small group of us there has made us all pretty close. Sure, sometimes we get annoyed with one another but, at the end of the day, I adore my coworkers. We work hard but we always find ways to have fun too, which I know would be a little difficult if I was working for a chain establishment. We all spend time together outside of work sometimes and try to do activities as a group. I didn't expect getting a job would bless me with such a vibrant group of friends.
Besides getting to be around some interesting individuals, I also have witnessed our artists puting an array of tattoos on people's bodies. These have ranged from small, simple crosses all the way to full-colored chest pieces. I have seen some come in wanting to get ones that have deep meanings, which are always my personal favorites. As an individual with tattoos, being around them a good amount of the time makes me love them even more and I am proud to say that I have decorated my skin with pieces of art.
The best thing of all is that I have learned some pretty important life lessons and skills. Working this job has taught me how to interact with quite a collection of people. I have learned how to be more patient and how to actually act as a sales person. Working there has honestly helped break me out of my shell. I have always enjoyed socializing and being around others, but I was still shy and somewhat uncomfortable.
Having this job though has helped condition me to be around a variety of people. So many people come in from different walks of life and you get to experience a slew of different personalities. You really never know what you are going to experience when someone walks through the door.
In the end, this job has changed my life and it was for the better. I have learned so much from working there for the past year. It has helped me grow as a person, learn how to work with others, and strengthened my social skills. Sometimes it may get crazy, but I wouldn't want any other job at this point in my life.
