This message goes out to all the hard working men and women at UAH who make it more than just their job to take care of their guests.

Dear food workers,

Let me first say how amazed I am at the work you guys do every single day. Early openings and late closings as you wait for the last stragglers to leave. Dealing with the lunch rush with grace and a smile. Keeping the food coming and the place clean even though I'm convinced college students are actually animals. I don't know how it's done, but day after day you all make it happen. And the craziest part? Nine times out of ten it's done without a single thank you. Sure, I hear students from time to time say it in a rush under their breaths, but I've almost never seen someone stop and offer a genuine thank you.

So from the bottom of mine, and many others's hearts, thank you. Thank you for providing us with more than just a meal. Thank you for providing us with a space to clear our heads after Cal B and thank you for not getting snippy with us when we're practically running through the line to make it to Literature by 2:20. Thank you for asking how my day has been and taking the 10 extra seconds to listen about a bombed quiz. I don't know how many people walk through your lines every day, but I know that if it wasn't for everyone in our food department, we would be dead because it's true what they say about college kids only knowing how to cook things in a microwave.

I'm sure to many of you, it's only a job. A way to pay off school or make a living. But to the people you serve, you are much more than that.

Lastly, though I'm sure many schools have amazing workers, I want to give a specific thank you to the workers here at my home of UAH.

First off, thank you to Mrs. Carrington and Mrs. Shirley who work in the Charger Cafe. You two remember every face that walks through those doors and make us all feel welcome. You're like the grandmothers we couldn't bring to school with us that always make sure we've eaten.

Next, I want to compliment all the cooks campus-wide. I don't know how you do it, but the food always keeps coming out. Especially at ChikFilA and Papa Johns, you guys deal with massive crowds yet keep a smile and keep on cooking. Thank you.

Next, thank you to all of the clean up and maintenance crew. Thank you for taking care of our messy selves. Doing all of those dishes and keeping those trash cans empty can't be easy but y'all make it look like it is. A special thank you goes to the older gentleman who works in Papa Johns for taking the time to talk to everyone about how their day is going.

And lastly, a huge shout out to the lovely ladies who are always working the lines at Papa Johns/ChikFilA. You are the sweetest girls I've ever met. There has never been a time that there hasn't been a smile on your face and I'm so very thankful. You always go out of your way for your customers and many of us really see that and we really do appreciate you. Keep it up.

All in all this is not a ploy for free food or to make up for that time I spilled a drink everywhere, it's an honest thank you to anyone who works in our food departments. We may not realize it often, but we truly could not make it through our days without you.