Like some college students, I never had a real job before I began college. Sure, I had my share of tutoring gigs and volunteer work, but never a real job that required filling out forms or one that taxed my earnings. Because of this, the summer after my first year of college, I decided to get one to save up money for books and basic living expenses.

My first job this summer was as a cashier at Universal Studios - the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley. I had originally applied for the job because one of my high school friends told me they were hiring and what Harry Potter fanatic wouldn’t want a chance to work where the magic (literally) is for so many? My first lesson, when I started this job, was that working in the service required a lot of patience and some degree of selflessness. Whether it’s something as little as providing them with an extra straw or changing their drink when it doesn't taste as good as they thought it would, the team members’ first priority is the guest. Most guests are amazing and truly a pleasure to serve, but some others can make the day a little harder.

However, no matter how rude the customer could be or how many times they asked me to repeat the menu, it was important that I kept smiling, kept my cool, and strove to make their day a better one. I did this not only because I wanted to keep my job (after all, it is a pretty awesome one), but also, because being a part of the Universal family taught me to take the guest’s feelings into consideration. They could have flown all the way from another country or could be from around the area, but they all came to enjoy their day at Universal when they could have chosen any other amusement park. The least they deserve is a good day with minimal to no problems.

Another thing I learned was how important it is to be a well-rounded and knowledgeable person. What I mean by this is that it never hurts to know more. Being a first generation Dominican-American, I am bilingual in both English and Spanish. Although my Spanish is not nearly as great as my English is, I can hold a conversation and understand even more. Working for Universal this summer provided me with the opportunity to help guests in not only English but Spanish, as well! My knowledge of Spanish even helped out when speaking to some Brazilians as well since Portuguese is very similar (although it wouldn’t have hurt for me to know some Portuguese). Universal hires many bilingual and even trilingual employees, but at times, I would be the only one who could understand Spanish in my location. Being able to help these guests made me feel good about myself and grateful to my mother for teaching me Spanish at an early age. It also never hurts to be knowledgeable of pop culture, especially the Harry Potter series in my case. Being able to connect with the guest on their favorite character from the series or role-play with them in the park really filled me with joy and definitely made my job even better.

My job at Universal this summer essentially not only provided me with some income for the upcoming school year, but also with important lessons: lessons about customer relations and how important it is to keep learning since you never know when certain knowledge could be useful.

(P.S. Also, if any of you happen to live in the Orlando area, definitely apply! Universal is a wonderful place to work and is always hiring!)