Summer jobs such as camp counseling, baby/house sitting, and internships are all something that high school and college kids have become all too familiar with. Yes, all of the jobs previously mentioned are great working experiences and can teach you valuable life lessons, internships especially, as they prepare you for your future careers. However, the most underrated, unique, and well-paid job, by far, is one that not many people have been a part of: the restaurant job
I was introduced to the restaurant job when I was 12 years old and let me tell you, I was in for a rude awakening. Most 12-year-olds start off with an easy-going babysitting or cashier job at an ice cream shop, but the restaurant job asks so much of you. In this realm, being a young teenager doesn’t mean you wont get reprimanded for a mistake any less than a 20-year-old would. Coming into a restaurant, ordering whatever is in your deepest desires, and basically being the king/queen of the place since you are the guest, is truly a privilege. The work, the time, and the finesse it takes to make sure every single person's satisfaction is met and that we, as the restaurant, went beyond your expectations, is just as hard as it sounds.
If I had to use a phrase to summarize the restaurant job it would be, Look calm and collected while killing two birds with one stone. Working at a restaurant requires you to be able to do 100 things at once without messing up and looking damn cool doing it.
You have to be able to clear plates from a table that seated six people in a matter of seconds and then set up for the table that is waiting at the door to be seated, all while the owner of the restaurant is staring into your soul. The most important part, however, is to look like you know what you’re doing and pray to God that you won’t drop a fork, or even worse, a wine glass, because everyone will immediately turn around and next thing you know you'll be the center of attention. You'll be that worker at the restaurant everyone thinks is a little inexperienced and not fit for the fast-paced life.
A restaurant job sounds nerve-wracking and you might ask yourself, why would anyone want to do this? However, the satisfaction you get from making 12 dollars an hour plus tips, eye flirting with someone as you bring them their food, and getting "the nod" from the boss after you just made a whole table laugh at your corny joke, is why it's just that worth it.
Putting the stress and long hours aside, the best part by far is the people you're surrounded by, whether it's the workers, in and out of the kitchen, or the actually customers.
The chefs, waiters, servers, and bus boys are some of the funniest people you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting. We all play pranks on and mess with each other. From taking a servers phone and sending random snapchats, to throwing food at the chefs as they aren't looking, the whole experience is something you don't experience every day.
The best interaction by far is the love/hate relationship between the servers and the chefs. The servers will ask the chefs to hurry and prepare the food for a table that has been waiting for a while and in this scenario you will definitely hear someone get cursed out in Spanish or Italian and maybe a kick and punch get thrown in the mix while everyone else is egging them on, laughing. It's fun to watch because we all know it's all in the heat of the moment and that in the next five minutes they'll be laughing about it over some Coronas and gnocchi the chef made for the workers.
What working at a restaurant taught me was that there is something that goes beyond the surface of just being that person who serves food, polishes dishes and plates, and sprinkles some pepper on a Caprese salad. I talk to the customers and befriend them in a way that makes me realize I'm part of a whole bigger picture. From the old couple who won't stop talking about how their grand children graduated with honors from middle school, to the moms who drank just a little too much on a Saturday night, and the little kids who blush and laugh with you, you're interacting with people on a daily basis in a unique way. You're only in each other's lives for a short period of time but you make sure it's a short a period of time that will be memorable for them and that will make them want to come back.
This summer, I had an internship, and honestly, as great as working at my internship was, that fast-pace life, the socializing and charm, all of it comes together to make me feel great at the end of the night. I feel that I contributed to an unforgettable experience for so many people while learning a lot in the process.
Next time you go to a restaurant, try to look around notice the time and effort put into everything that goes on. Talk to a server or waiter and just know that they have the best intentions. If you haven't worked at a restaurant I highly suggest you look into it, even for a week or two. It's one of the most difficult mental and physical jobs I wouldn't have it any other way.
