To anyone who takes pleasure in eating out, even on rare occasion, here’s a tip. I’m going to give you a glance inside the mind of an underpaid, overworked waitress, because waitresses are people, too.

First thing’s first. Because servers receive tips for their service, it is legal for employers to pay them less than the federal minimum hourly wage -- $3.75 in my case. A server’s entire income depends solely on a customer’s willingness to tip, aside from their whopping $250-ish paycheck every two weeks (if they’re working full-time). There is nothing more frustrating for a server than to walk over to a table and see no tip, despite providing excellent service. Folks, at the very least, you should be leaving a tip that’s 15 percent of the total charge every time you eat out. You shouldn’t, however, base the tip amount completely off of that percent. If a server gave you excellent service, but you have a relatively inexpensive bill, go ahead and tip $10. You have no idea how much it’s appreciated. If you receive crappy service, first of all, evaluate your entire dining experience. Were you courteous? Patient? Understanding? Something that people tend to forget is that their servers are, in fact, human beings just like them. Servers do not deserve to have drinks shoved in their faces, dirty plates thrown in their direction, ill treatment because the food is sub-par, (all of which I have experienced in my year and seven months of serving) none of it. If you are a bad customer, you will receive less than spectacular service. Simple as that.

If you are an anti-tipper, and yes, they exist, please reevaluate either your life or restaurant choices. I’ve come across customers who very obviously see themselves as more human, more intelligent, superior, whatever, than their servers. Newsflash: they’re not. Servers are people, too, folks. Serving food for a living and depending on tips for their income does not make them any less human. They are not inferior, they are not ragdolls, they are not drink-making, food-carrying robots who deserve to be treated as any less of the human beings they are. Long story short, they deserve tips. Understand that they are doing what they do just to get by in this life, just like everyone else. If you do not view tipping as a necessity, stick with McDonald’s from now on. When you decide not to tip your server, you are leaving them in major financial trouble. $3.75 an hour is not a livable wage, by any means.

Folks, please tip. Whether it’s $2 or $20, leave something. Without you, servers have nothing but pocket change and frustration. As someone who has worked in the foodservice industry, I can assure you that we servers deserve payment for their labor, just like anyone else. So, next time you walk into a restaurant, look at your server and remember this.

We are human beings who are incapable of perfection. If we mess up, I can assure you it was not intentional.

That lady bringing your drinks and food to your table? They get paid an absolute bare minimum of $2.13 an hour. Tip them.

Servers are human beings who are worthy of being treated as such. Compliment them. Tell them how great they’re doing, and tip them accordingly. They’ll appreciate it.

And, last but not least, if you are not kind and courteous, it is not the server’s fault your service did not meet your expectations.

Here are your tips for the day. Remember them, use them and have a great dining experience.