I can honestly say that I've been really lucky with the people I have gotten to work with. If you really think about it, coworkers really do become some of your closest friends. I mean…you are forced to spend time with them as part of your job. Being the social person that I am, I've always found it really special to get to know the crazy amount of people that I do simply for being a college student with a job.

Even from the earliest age, I've gotten really close to the people that I work with at my retail job. Maybe it's because I hate silence and awkwardness, or maybe it's just because I'm a pretty outgoing person, but I love to hear their stories. At my retail job, I always bonded with the older ladies I worked with who have honestly become my mentors. They made me the woman I am today. They taught me that hard work takes you far, it's okay to make mistakes and that college will be an emotional rollercoaster.

Most importantly, they taught me that I am worthy of love.

Once I got to college and began working at the cafe, I met over 100 people that I would literally have never even crossed paths within any other situation. Imagine talking about your passions on a shift with an education major, pre-med major, nutrition major and business major. Our conversations get pretty interesting, to say the least. In fact, my coworkers were the ones who pushed me to change my major to education… I would be a miserable international studies major if it wasn't for them. They saw the passion in me and helped me finally realize what I was born on this earth to do: teach.

So thank you, you know who you are, for listening to my stories and drama, comforting me on bad days and cheering me on for projects and papers. I always know I can count on you guys for moral support, genuine friendship and compassion. Every time that I clock in,I know that my shift will be filled with laughter, stories, insight and friendship. I really do love you guys.