The connections you make in the workplace are some of the most valuable relationships you'll be lucky to have. These people transform from strangers, to coworkers, to friends, and if you're blessed like me, to family. No matter where you work or for how long, these people make an impact on your life sometimes greater than people you may have known for a long period of time before. To my family in the food industry, these words of thanks are for you.

Thank you for accepting me.

When I was the "new girl," you took me under your wing. You welcomed me with open arms, made me apart of your team and let me in on your jokes. You invited me out, included me in your plans and treated me like you've known me your whole life.

Thank you for helping me.

You guided me through all of the many questions I had, like how to find hidden menu items, or showed me where to find something in dry storage (years later and I still have yet to find some things!). Early on, you flooded me with advice on how to handle specific guests or tasks around the kitchen. If you rolled extra silverware and got your own bin signed off, you'd set some aside for me before my shift even started. What a difference those little things made.

Thank you for making me laugh.

From talking in silly voices on the grill line, to making absurd sound effects when directing traffic down the server aisle, to having personal catch phrases or spouting off one liners, I never left a shift without grinning ear to ear. You made the work environment comfortable and warm with your great sense of humor and ability to open up to me and others.

Thank you for laughing at me--and with me.

There were countless occasions when I goofed, big time, but I wouldn't have gotten through the humiliation without your willingness to laugh it off with me. You dealt with me when I had too much caffeine in an attempt to force myself to stay alert through my shift, and zipped through the restaurant like the Roadrunner. And I especially loved when we made it to the very end of a double after a long day and we were just so exhausted that everything was hysterical.

Thank you for looking out for me.

And for greeting one of my tables while I was running food, or running my food while I was greeting a table. Your display of teamwork shined brighter than you could've imagined, especially in times of high stress. And let's talk about covering my shifts- whether I had to cram for an exam the following morning or was with family out of town, or simply didn't feel well enough to make it in, someone always had my back.

Thank you for supporting me.

During times of stress, joy, anger, frustration, relief or panic, you've always been there. You had my best interest at heart and you did what you could to be there for me however I needed you. There's no better feeling than knowing I was never in it alone.

Thank you for the memories.

We came together during times of someone's loss, we celebrated in times of someone's success and we bonded together as a team when we were lacking morale and motivation but couldn't afford to let that eat away at us. I will forever cherish each person I've worked with over the years. I will be forever thankful for the lessons you taught me, the bond we shared, and the memories we made.

No matter where we go in life, I will be rooting for you, just like you've always been rooting for me.