Site icon Cara Thereon

Minimum Wage

So rusty… 

There’s nothing wrong with working at Bob Evans. Just like there’s nothing wrong with admitting you dropped out of college. My mother told me that the day I called crying because I was failing out of school. My tears dried up, packed my dorm room up, and got a job waiting tables.

Now I can’t figure out why the need to shy away from confessing I didn’t make it. Some people just aren’t cut out for higher education and waitressing at a family restaurant is no less important than the lawyer or the stockbroker. Everyone has a place in this world, it’s society that places a certain level of importance or worth on things.

Waiting tables is a commendable job really. Back breaking, thankless, anonymous work. You’re Sally with the greasy apron who makes eight dollars an hour, works afternoons and nights alternating, and puts in fifty plus hours a week. And because you serve people forget you’ve got two kids, rent, and blisters on your feet after your double. You’re a person still and your service matters. I matter.

I mean something, degree or no. That restaurant uniform and name badge don’t say a thing about who I am anymore then walking across a stage and holding a piece a paper does.

“You’re important! Own that truth.”

I tell myself that every morning when I wake up and get ready for work. Uniform on, smile on, out the door. There is worth in lifting trays and dealing with surly customers. I’ll wear my smile and take their order because my job still has importance whether they treat me well or not.

There’s nothing wrong with admitting I dropped out of college and wait tables. I’m still valuable, important to society, no matter what my job is.

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