This past week marks my six month anniversary working in the restaurant industry, and I must say that I have definitely enjoyed the experience! It definitely was not my first choice to work for a chain of casual-dining bakery/cafes, but it has been one of the best things in my life. Sort of for my own sake, I took the time to reflect on the things that I have learned since starting this job; I decided to share my reflections in hopes of encouraging someone who is considering applying for a similar position!

Now, obviously, the main things I have learned are specific to where I am working. I have learned things like how to take customers' orders, how to make food and specialty drinks, how to clean according to restaurant standards, and other helpful things. But there are some other valuable lessons that I think can be applied to life regardless where one works.

One: Camaraderie and teamwork! When I interviewed for this position, I was asked if I had worked on team projects throughout high school, to which I replied yes, but it was not until I actually started working that I truly got a sense of camaraderie in the workplace. Introverted or extroverted, you have to build relationships with your coworkers. There is no way to fly solo in this industry; most days are hectic at best, and it can get overwhelming unless you have built relationships with those around you. You need to know they have your back and they need to know you have theirs!

Sometimes, I have had to swallow a little pride and ask for help, and other times, I have had to jump in and lend a hand. And I must say that the feeling of being a part of a team is extremely fulfilling! I was also surprised how emotionally attached I became to my coworkers after just a few months of working at the restaurant but is that not natural after spending hours upon hours upon hours with the same people?

Two: How to remain gracious under difficult circumstances. For a majority of my life, people have commented on my politeness, but that virtue often gets tested in this industry. There have been countless days where I have had to serve some of the most ungrateful rude people I have ever encountered, so it has been a welcomed challenge learning how to remain polite when others are incredibly rude. Realizing that everyone has a story and that we have no idea what these people have recently gone through gives me grace for the most graceless.

If you are in or are going into this industry, something I would recommend is having someone outside the workplace you can vent to; if you bottle up the frustrations, the chance of blowing up in front of a customer does increase. Also, learn how to laugh it all off! It's always a comfort when - after the customer has left of course - my coworkers and I are able to laugh and joke about the whole horrible ordeal.

Three: Truly loving those who are different than you. This was my first job ever and really my first time encountering countless others with different beliefs, morals, and lifestyles than me. And I can say it has been a most wonderful experience! I have learned to see people as humans deserving of love, respect, and common courtesies regardless of religion, sexual orientation, gender, or race. Everyone needs to be shown love and it is horribly wrong to alienate someone from that needed love simply because they are different than you.

Four: if you do not have any knowledge on a subject, keep your mouth shut! There was a time a little bit ago where an opportunity presented itself for me to get into a debate . . . and I let that opportunity pass. I do not like to argue, but I love to debate! However, I realized that if I have little to no knowledge on the subject, then it would be irresponsible for me to debate the subject with any authority! If I had entered into this debate, I would have only been able to state my beliefs but no facts, which would not have ended well. So now, any time a debate presents itself, I will continue to take into consideration how factual my knowledge on the subject is. If I have no authority, my mouth will stay shut!

There are definitely some other things I have learned, but these are the main points that have really impacted my life. And, especially going into a new year, I look forward to seeing how these lessons grow me into a better person!