After looking at about 20 different job applications at the age of 16 and not applying to any of them, I decided to apply to a tween girls' clothing store in the summer before my senior year. When I was little, I remember shopping there all the time, the exact same store with the exact same carpeting and the exact same atmosphere.

When I walked in for my interview, it was crazy weird and so familiar to me. Of course, I was extremely nervous, because it was my very first job interview and - actually no I was terrified. I wasn't sure what they were going to ask or what I would have to do since I had never had a job before; I didn't know what my boss would be like. I was worried about so many things.

I'm the type of person who is very shy at first when you meet me, especially if I don't know anybody else. When I heard that I got the job, I was ecstatic, but still so nervous, because now I had to worry about my first day at work. It took me a little while to warm up to everything, just ask anybody who worked with me from the beginning. I barely spoke, but after a few months, I wouldn't stop, because it's a place where I felt so comfortable being myself.

It's been about a year now and I just had my last day, and I never would have thought that it would make me so sad to leave that place.

I wanted to write this article, because I want to tell the people that I've worked with how thankful I am for them, how much they've influenced me, and how much I've learned from them.

I'm not sure if I've ever told them exactly how I feel. So, here it goes.

To my boss: I want you to know that the way you taught me things, made me want to work harder and I thank you for that. I haven't always had the best work ethic, but you always made me want to do my best. I know I probably made you repeat everything about five times, but it was only because I wanted to do it correctly the first time. I had some days where I didn't feel like myself and I may have seemed a bit down in the dumps, and you always asked if I was okay. I wanted to thank you for that too, because not everybody cares enough to ask. It was a little bumpy at first, I definitely didn't think you liked me and I was worried that I was on your bad side whenever I felt like I did something wrong. But after a couple months, I knew that the way you reacted to things that I did wrong, it was just your way of training us and helping us learn the way to do things, and I respect that. I always liked that you tried to balance everything, you were strict, but you also knew how to laugh at jokes and have fun. Every single time I saw you helping a little girl or a parent, I envied how easy it seemed to come to you, and how likable you were to so many little girls. I think you are such a good person inside and out and I just hope you know that.

To my co-workers: I really enjoyed working with every single one of you, whether it was for the whole time I was there, or for just a few weeks, it was enjoyable. Of course, I was closer with some than I was with others, but regardless, I still loved learning along side each of you. You each brought something different to the table. I always loved hearing about your lives, your cats, and different thoughts that came to your mind. Whether it was coming to a fair at my high school to see a project I made or attending my graduation party, you seemed like you cared at some level and I really appreciate that. You've all taught me so many things. The biggest thing being, wherever you go in life, things will work out and you can still have goals and aspirations, even if things haven't gone as you planned in the past. I'm proud of every single one of you for the different things that you've accomplished. Thank you for teaching me so much, and making my very first job so memorable.

To all of you: I hope I can see you again and continue to share memories and stories with you as life goes on. All I want is for us to keep in touch, because you guys have made a big impact on my life in the past year. So, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for being such a constant thing in my life, in a year full of change. And please know that although I'm younger than most of you and I'll be five hours away, I am still always a text or call away if there is something you need to talk to someone about whether it's work-related, something you are stressed about, or anything really. I'm always here.

I am probably in class right now or making new friends, but this job will always be in the back of my mind, because of how much I got out of it. I am forever grateful for you people.