My passion

Hello, it’s Squishy. I’m going to share a little bit about my dream and passion. Some of you may know, I’m wanting to become an EMT. I may seem like I hate everyone, but I love helping people. I like the thought of saving lives and just doing something for my community.

My junior and senior years in high school, I was really struggling on what I wanted to do with my life. At the time, I was dating someone in the military who I thought I was going to marry someday. So, I had to think of a job that would be easy to have while moving around a lot. I looked into it and thought nursing might be a good fit. I always found medical things to be interesting. I took a tour at a college I was interested in and really liked it. But, I knew that since I was homeschooled and really couldn’t afford college, it probably would be really difficult to get into a good college. So, I kept looking. Eventually, my mom suggested looking into becoming an EMT. I did my research and asked a guy I knew, who was a paramedic, if it was possible to move around and be an EMT at the same time and he said it was. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of becoming one. I get really passionate about things really fast. When I want something, I don’t stop until I get it. Eventually, I signed up for the EMT course at the same college where I toured at. I loved the class. It was so interesting and such a great experience. I knew I had made the right decision. At the end of the 4 month course, I passed. I was so proud of myself. But, I wasn’t quite an EMT yet. I still had to take the National Registry Exam. I forget how many months I waited after the course to take it but, it was probably too long. When I did take it, I didn’t pass. I was so disappointed. It was so much harder than I expected. Which, is probably good. Because they want the best. It’s literally between life and death. I struggled with where to go from there. I kept going from “I’m done. I quit. I don’t want to do it anymore.” to “no, I need to still pursue it.” I went back and forth so many times. Finally, I decided to start studying again and schedule to take the National Registey Exam. I felt like I studied pretty hard. I felt really confident going into the exam. I failed. Again. I wasn’t able to take the exam again because my time limit expired shortly after that try.

That leads me to where I’m at now. A year after I graduated EMT School. I recently found out about an EMT class that’s in the next town over and I looked into it and signed up. I start in January. I am so excited! Still, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I may not pass again. But, I have a really good feeling about it. I’m sharing all this to tell you to just never give up on your dream. That sounds cliché, I know. If you fail, please don’t stop trying. Everyone deserves to have their dream. I believe everything happens for a reason. That God has a plan for everything. If it doesn’t happen when you want it to, there’s a reason. A reason you may not understand at the moment. But, I promise you, you will understand eventually. Heck, a better opportunity might come along and you’ll be thankful what you had planned didn’t happen. I would like to add that I did choose this career path because of a boy and even though it’s now my passion, don’t decide what you want to do with your life based around your significant other. You need to follow your dreams and do what’s best for you. I’ll end my cliché post here.

Crazy Customers: Fast Food Edition

Introducing the Fast Food Edition of our “Crazy Customers” blog post series! Make sure you also check out our first blog “Crazy Customers: Jewelry Store Edition”. Topics like this are relatable for practically anyone, because chances are your first job was working in the Fast Food Industry followed by some sort of job in Retail and so on…

Here are just some of the Crazy Customers that I’ve had recently working a fast food concession stand at a stadium near by.

1. A little child came up to the counter and said “So, what can I get for free here?” Um, a straw? (We literally gave the kid a straw) Seriously?! Who sends their child up to the concession stand asking for free food?
2. “Can I have a receipt for that?” Excuse me, but why do you need a receipt for a single water bottle you bought with cash? Blows my mind but sure, let me re-enter the order so I can print a receipt special for you.
3. “Can I have a large draft beer?” “Of course, I just need to check your ID” “Really?” No, not really. It’s not at all required, I just want to know your birthdate for personal use. It’s not like it’s a law or procedure or anything important.
4. “Do you have to take the caps?” This may not apply everywhere but the stadium I volunteer at we have to take off the caps to any drinks because fans used to throw them. And yes, we have to explain why to every customer who orders a drink.
5. “I’ll give you more money if you let me keep the cap” I literally just explained to you that it’s required from the workers to take off all the caps. I’m sorry, I know it’s a pain, I have the blisters on my hand to prove it. I promise I’m not collecting soda and water caps.
6. “Can I get a fountain soda?” “Which size, Small or Large?” “Medium” Was that an option? I didn’t think so. But let me ask again, this time I’ll take out one of each size just to make sure you understand there’s only two options… Small… or…. Large.
7. On the same note, there’s the customers that open their sodas to make sure it’s filled to their liking. Clearly the quarter of an inch at the top of the cup is going to end up in the question “Can you just fill this up more?” Yup, have fun walking back to your seat wearing your drink.
8. A customer walks up to the concession stand which is named “Tenders and Wings” with the question “Do you sell hot dogs here?” Hmm, let me check the menu… Chicken tenders… fries… chicken wings… Nope, I’m sorry, but there’s a hot dog stand right across the way there!
9. “Can I have an order of chicken tenders with fries?” Once you get the order for them and return to the counter they say “I didn’t order that, I wanted fries” Well, you order chicken tenders with fries. Not an order of fries. But let me get that for you.
10. Finally, there’s always the customer that adds on to their orders after paying already.
11. Oh, or the one’s who come up to the counter not knowing what they want.
12. Don’t forget the customers who you ask to stand to the side while their order is made, but they don’t move, so you can’t take the next person in line behind them.

Working in fast food is both crazy and fun. I love taking the customers orders and working the register, but don’t get me wrong, it’s not always fun when you hear the same silly questions over and over for five hours.

 

Disclaimer: If you are one of these customers please do not take this blog offensively, my teachers always said there is no such thing as a stupid question.

 

*** Hey fast food employees… as you know… there are stupid questions working in the fast food industry… ***

12 Things you say Over and Over Working in Fast Food

1. Hi, what can I get for you?

This is a really simply way of greeting people, of course always spoken with a smile on your face.

2. What size drink? What kind of drink do you want?

This actually drives me insane. At my work we have two sizes, small and large. How many people do you think ask for the medium?

3. We have Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist… Etc etc.

Then it leads to this, they don’t inform you what kind of drink they want so you have to list every single kind you have. Remembering all 8 of them is honestly a struggle. I personally love when a customer asks for Coke when clearly there’s Pepsi. There’s seriously Pepsi signs right in front of them.

4. Is that all?

I use this all the time when customers don’t really seem like they know if that’s all they want or not.

5. So that’ll be a *repeat order*

Once I get the go ahead that they are finished ordering, I’ll repeat the entire order just to make sure that I didn’t miss anything or they didn’t change their minds. It’s just easier than getting my manager to refund something later.

6. And you’re total is… $$$$$

For some reason this line is the one my customers never listen to. I tell them how much their order is and they’ll hand me the wrong amount. It’s quite awkward when you have to ask for more money than what they gave you.

7. You just need to complete the card transaction.

At my work, we have iPads as our register system so we just flip over the screen to the customer to complete the transaction. For whatever reason half of them don’t understand what just happened. This is also the only way I can “solicit” asking for a tip as the screen pops up with an option for it.

8. Would you like a reciept?

Not many people want receipts at a concert arena so my register doesn’t print every single persons order. I have to make sure that if the customer wants one I hand print it for them.

9. The condiments/napkins/straws are behind you on the table.

This is one of the most common questions I get asked. I don’t really understand why so many people can’t find the condiment station.

10. Here’s your change.

Just a really simple thing that’s slightly a necessary line in a fast food place. Duh everyone wants their change.

11. Have a nice day/night!

A friendly greeting goodbye to your customers is the last part of the order. Sometimes I even throw in enjoy the concert!

12. I can take the next person over here!

If you don’t say this after an order is done the people next in line just stand there watching you. You’d think it’d be common sense but I guess not!

And just like that you’re back to “hello, what can I get for you?”. It’s really just an endless cycle.

Pennies From Heaven

It’s one o’clock in the morning on a random Wednesday night. I recently got out of work and wanted to blog about something I experienced today before I forgot. I truly believe that this is something that every can relate to.

I work at an event arena where I work at the concession stand serving customers their food. In recent concerts, I’ve served around seven hundred customers, which is insane. We can’t solicit by having a jar for tips. I get paid below minimum wage. I deal with a lot of people with a high pace speed. Not everyone is cut out to work the register at this type of job. The hours are a bit strange since we work events that get out late at night and start early in the afternoon. This job may be hectic ninety-nine percent of the time but it never ceases to be boring. Needless to say, there’s some background knowledge about my workplace.

Not everyone leaves tips since we can’t have jars out. They think that we can’t accept them or whatever other reason. There are however some very generous people who tip, of course depending on the crowd the tips you receive range all the time.

Tonight, in the beginning of my shift I found a penny on my counter, heads up. I thought at first that it was strange. What would I want with a penny? Not to mention, in our registers we only have quarters. No one had ever left me a penny before. Regardless, I carried the penny around all night in my little apron. I kept wondering why someone would have a single penny just hanging around in their pocket at this type of event. For some reason, I just couldn’t get over the penny and why it was given to me.

Just before our concession stand closed for the night, my last customer walked over to me. She ordered her food as usual. Her friends came over and asked her if she was okay getting back to the seat on her own. They left. My customer started talking to me. She said “They keep asking me if I’m okay… I lost my son just last week. We just buried him on Sunday.” 

Caught off guard, I didn’t really know what to respond with. I knew that this lady was feeling a great amount of grief and wasn’t exactly sure how to handle it. We talked about how her friends were just being supportive, how hard it was for her to stay strong in a time like this and she even told me about the tattoo she got in her sons honor after his death. After talking to the customer for about ten to fifteen minutes, it hit me. The penny. 

My mother lost her sister about six years ago. Ever since, she has been finding and picking up heads up pennies everywhere. She calls them pennies from heaven. Many people actually use this expression thinking that this penny was placed in this spot to bring up the memory of someone you have lost. For my mom, it was her sister. But tonight, the penny placed on my counter earlier that day was from my customers son. 

I told her about how my mother has this tradition of finding pennies she claims are from heaven. I told her how there was a penny that was randomly placed on my counter today. I pulled it from my apron and handed it to her. I told her that I believed that today, that penny was meant for her to have. She needed it more than I did.

This just goes to show that everything happens for a reason. The little things you do for others could mean the world to someone else. 

Everyone deals with loss differently. For some people, they may need to get out and take their minds off everything. For others, they may not want to talk about it. Some people just want to be alone. Sometimes asking if they are okay is the worst thing to say. Of course they aren’t okay right now. But they know they need to be strong for everyone else.

Treat your customers, and for that matter, everyone, with respect. It may be the end of a long shift. You might be extremely tired. No matter how much you don’t really want to be there anymore. You truly never know what a person is going through or dealing with in their lives. They may seem happy or may be out having a fun time for the night at some type of event but you don’t know what is going on inside their lives.

I guess my point is just that every little thing matters. Little kind gestures can sometimes create the biggest smiles in a person. Who would have ever guessed that a penny would make a customer smile or have such a big meaning to someone else. It may be worth a small money value, but the gesture was one of a big heart.

***Photos used in this post belong to respected owners, they are not our own images***

Work, Work, Work, Work, Work

((Yes the title is from Rihanna’s song))

Yesterday was my first day at my first real job. The first day on a new job is pretty nerve wracking to be completely honest. You feel pretty lost and confused since you’re in a place where you don’t know what to do yet. Anyways, in honor of my first real job beginning I wanted to write a blog with my thoughts at work throughout the day. Disclaimer: this could take some funny turns.

The day before:

• I work tomorrow…
• Yay! Money!
• I’m so excited!

Two hours before the shift starts:

• LOL I have a job.
• I don’t want to go to work.
• But my bed? And Netflix?
• Why do I have to wear this uniform?
• Why do I need to have a job again?
• Oh right, college loans.

Getting ready:

• I’m so excited!
• I love people!
• Yay! Money! (again)
• This uniform isn’t that bad, I guess.
• Do I have everything?
• Don’t be late!
• Am I forgetting anything?
• Can’t be late!
• Where is my badge?
• CAR CAR CAR CAR CAR.
• Of course, traffic.
• These people do not know how to drive.
• I hate people.

Arriving at work:

• Must sign in on time.
• Where do I go?
• Oh, hi coworkers.
• Definitely forgot something.
• But what?
• Oh well. I’m sure it’s not important.

Beginning of the shift:

• ENERGY.
• WHY DO I HAVE SO MUCH ENERGY.
• I can’t wait to have customers.
• WORK
• Wait, how does the machine work again?
• Oh gosh, I forget where everything is.
• WORK
• I forget my pin code, again.
• I should really memorize that.
• WORK
• Must clean everything.
• Spotless. Customers are coming soon.

Middle of the shift:

• The busy time is over, I hope.
• WORK
• I hate people so much.
• WORK
• I’m glad I remember where everything is now.
• WORK
• Be efficient.
• WORK
• ALMOST DONE I PROMISE.

Almost the end of the shift:

• I really hate people.
• Wow, I’m tired.
• Tip me. Please.
• And hungry.
• THAT’S WHAT I FORGOT. I guess it was important.
• Yay, more customers.
• Tips much appreciated.
• THE BUSY TIME WAS NOT OVER.
• I REPEAT THE BUSY TIME WAS NOT OVER.
• Legs. Jello. Can’t move.
• Jello? OMG FOOD.
• When is this day over?
• I’m going to quit.

End of the shift:

• Last customer of the day, whoop whoop!
• Quick, lock the doors before they see us.
• Can I leave now?
• I don’t want to clean up.
• I declare death by work.
• CAR CAR CAR CAR CAR
• I really really hate people.

Driving home:

• At least I don’t have to work tomorrow.
• Sleeping in is going to be wonderful.
• Oh how I miss my bed.
• Can this person in front of me go any slower.
• Of course, traffic.

At home:

• I’m so tired.
• I’m so hungry.
• Bed.
• Sleep.
• Netflix.
• Food.
• Heaven.
• Happiness.
• I’m never going back to that place.

A couple hours later: (& a good rest)

• This job really isn’t that bad.
• I actually enjoyed working today.
• Maybe I won’t quit.
• Well, I couldn’t afford to anyways…
• I don’t have to work tomorrow.
• I feel like I’m forgetting something?
• Wait, what day is it today?
• Oh, I guess I am working tomorrow.
• Yay! Money!

It really is just an endless cycle isn’t it……

Crazy Customers: Jewelry Store Edition

I work at a jewelry store and the things customers say to me or do are just as annoying or ridiculous as normal retail jobs. Here are a few!

1. “Looks like someone dropped all the diamonds! Ha ha”

At the store I work at, we have glitter on the floor. If I had a dollar for every time someone said this to me, I wouldn’t have to work anymore.

2. “So and So’s prices are cheaper”

Then why are you in our store? We’re not going to give away jewelry just so we beat the competitors. We have to get paid somehow!

3. “This price is too much”

They usually say this to us sales associates and get mad at us as if we were the one who priced the item.

4. “I want to spend $50-$100”

I get this a lot. Like if you want to spend that much, go to Claire’s. 

5. “I’m just looking”

I hear this 5 thousand times a day. It’s fine if they say this. But what really gets me is when you greet them and say “hi how are you today?” And they immediately say “I’m just looking” and don’t answer your question. Or they rudely interrupt you while greeting.

6. “Do you guys sell body piercings?”

Do we look like a piercing and tattoo shop to you?

7. *Comes in while talking on the phone*

I don’t know about you, but I find this very rude. How do you expect us to help you when you’re on the phone? If you don’t get off shortly after entering the store, I’ll throw your phone.

8. *gets mad at US because something’s wrong with the piece of jewelry*

As if we personally made them. It’s not our fault you wear it to bed, bang it around, wash something with chemicals… Don’t be rude.

9. *stands right beside me while I clean their ring*

Nobody likes it when someone is breathing down their neck. I get customers all the time coming in and want their rings cleaned. Like okay, no problem. Then they stand right beside me, watching my every move to make sure I’m not hurting it. Like please. I’ll do a better job if you stand far away from me.

10. *drags you all over the store and has you show them 1,000 different pieces because they can’t make a decision*

This makes me so frustrated. You walk all around the store. Show them whatever they want to see. And then end up not buying anything. We sometimes have people do this for over an hours.

Despite the ridiculous, working in a jewelry store has been great. The crazy customers make for funny stories to tell later!