I am a bartender. I have a job. And no, it is not a fake job.

It takes a lot of skills to be a bartender. Everything from communicating with people, handling stress in a hectic environment, being on your feet all day, and most importantly, the simple aspect of just being at a job and performing duties.

When I tell people I am a bartender, they usually say one of two things either, "Wow, that's great, I bet you make a lot of money!" Or, on the contrary, "Oh, bartending isn't a real job." And they usually go on to ask what my plans are for my future.

Okay, let's get one thing straight. I do have plans for my future and bartending is not one of them. Just because it's not in my future playbook doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. My coworkers are my close friends since we spend so many hours a week together. The customers treat me incredibly well, some even see me like a second daughter, a friend, or a colleague. Either way, I'm surrounded by positive people who make my job so much easier to go to. Yes, there are people who I can't stand, but that accounts for only a few. Some of my regulars I even have inside jokes with!

Secondly, I make money every weekend and do not have to worry about a paycheck. There have been times where my bills are taken care of just in one weekend and other times where I cannot afford much! But that's part of the process.

Third, I can work up to thirty-four hours in three days behind the bar. three days with thirty-four hours. It's taxing on bodies because you cannot sit down. One must run around a bar with two other people behind it, not eating or usingthe bathroom all night. By the end of a shift, I'm completely exhausted.

The icing on the cake is that bartenders also are attending college or trade school, taking care of families, or just saving for their future. And if we are talking about jobs, then there's really no difference between my "fake" job and another.