After working in a restaurant for over two years, I can easily sum up all of the good and the bad. I've seen it all--from the gossip at the hostess stand to the drama in the back kitchen, I wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world. The friendships I’ve made are the strongest and most unique I’ll ever have.

In the real world, you are going to have to take sh*t from people, there is no doubt about that. And what better way to learn than with a smile on your face? Working in a restaurant means getting yelled at for almost no money. I used to tear up whenever I received a snarky comment from a customer about how long they had waited for a table, but after the third or fourth time, I realized I couldn't let it get me down anymore. I learned how to smile in the face of rudeness and keep on doing my job, a lesson that I will carry for the rest of my life.

In this business, you'll find yourself doing the same thing over and over again--repetition is a part of life. After a long day of saying and doing the same things, you learn to make it fun. I know everyone hopes their life is going to be filled with adventure and excitement, but in reality, there are going to be boring slumps, so why not learn to jazz it up?

Working in a restaurant can mean long and hard days. After doing three doubles in a row, you're going to want to chop off your feet and sleep forever. Hours and hours on your feet every day can make you tough as nails.

I promise it’s not all bad. It can seem like it's the worst job in the world after an 11 hour non-stop shift with jerk customers yelling at you, but one thing can change it all. The occasional table can turn your entire day around. The little old couple who comes in for an adorable date, the family who is grateful for just a smile or the sweet old man who gives you advice on your life. One table out of 25 can restore your entire faith in humanity. They are what makes dealing with all of the other ungrateful people who walk through the door, worth it.

The most important part of getting through the day, are the people around you. Everyone knows that your business is only as good as its employees. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, you have to rely on those around you who you trust to help pick up the slack. In the down time that you will all eventually have, you will laugh about the silly things you do when you're over tired and bond over the tough parts of the job you do together. My favorite thing to do is gossip about the drama. Whether it be who started the fight in the kitchen, or who got with who last night, it can be the perfect stress reliever.

And of course the occasional free meal doesn't hurt either.