I am a waitress. No, I'm not ashamed and no, I don't think that I need to get a "real job". I am 21 years old and I am working towards my degree, but that takes time and I have bills to pay. Waitressing has been a saving grace for me. It's a fun job with some great people and it is humbling in a way that only a server could understand. In my line of work, I have to deal with all types of people. There are some that make me want to rip my hair out, but there are always those who make my job more tolerable.
The other night I was chatting with a group of businessmen that happened to be lawyers. I had previously worked at a law firm and brought this up in the conversation and said that I was hoping to be a lawyer some day, but after working there for a time realized that it wasn't for me. One of the men at the table sarcastically replied, "Well you made a good decision working here, stay with the restaurant biz." I laughed because I couldn't slap him across the face, but I was stunned. I am an intelligent, young woman, and while I may be a waitress now, that doesn't mean that I plan to be doing this my whole life.
The fact that my table of lawyers actually looked down at this profession is astonishing. I may not be planning to wait tables my whole life, but that doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with that. In fact, I can see a lot of benefits from working in a restaurant, but only those who have been in my shoes can understand. Here are just a few reasons why everyone should wait tables at least once in their life:
1. Your attitude affects your pay, which makes you work harder.
If you're having an "off day," you can't just try harder tomorrow, your paycheck will suffer at the end of the night if you're not on your A-game. Table 17 knows that you're hung-over and won't be tipping you 20 percent.
2. You understand that the small things that go wrong shouldn't matter.
You will have tables that will have their night ruined because they never got another side of ranch, even though they didn't finish the first. They will complain and take it out on you, even though you know that this is such a petty problem that you just smile and nod until the verbal abuse is over.
3. You understand people better.
As I have waitressed and bartended, people will get comfortable with me and instead of mixing drinks, I'm helping solve marital problems or consoling someone who lost a loved one. I have seen people from all walks of life with their own story to tell and I feel for these people, they open up to me and it has made me a more sympathetic and empathetic person.
4. We all make mistakes.
I do not care what you make a year, if I forgot your appetizer, you do not need to berate me in front of the entire restaurant. We all make mistakes. More people need to understand that behind the closed kitchen doors, it can be chaos. The chefs are trying not to kill someone who is literally allergic to half the menu items and dealing with a rush and sometimes things slip. Does it suck? Yes. Should it ruin your evening? Hell no.
5. When you go out to eat you can understand what you put your server through.
When I go out to eat now I am the most understanding patron ever. I understand if you're crazy busy and I get it if you're new. But when I was younger I can remember a time where I went out to eat with my friends at Friendly's and because we were all twelve years old, we didn't have all of the money in the world and instead of leaving a gracious tip for our server, we left a bunch of change. In the middle of the table, there was a pile of pennies, dimes and nickels. Back then I thought it was funny and we all laughed, but after working in this industry I realize that I was in the wrong and that server should have slapped me.
Remember folks, I am your server and I will try to make your dining experience amazing, but I can not turn water into wine and if everyone worked just one day in this industry they would understand that.
