As a car hop at the Sonic Drive-In, I learned how to count back change really well. I learned how to clean the slushy machine, how to carry a really heavy tray of food and Route 44 drinks across the parking lot without getting hit by a car or dropping anything and I learned how to make a really great ice cream sundae. It was a fun job, I made a lot of friends and actually made pretty good money in tips. Back then, people rarely used debit cards so they always paid with cash which meant they had change and they would usually just tell me to keep it. I'm sad that I don't keep in touch with the girls in the photo below, we have some great memories, but after high school, we lost touch. (Sonic Car Hop 1999-2001) When I started college at MSSU, I worked in the Financial Aid Office through the work study program. I was only allowed to work 20 hours a week, so the schedule was very flexible and worked around my classes. I never had to work weekends and I learned how to file paperwork, use computer programs, how to talk to people on the phone, how to be a professional and basically how to work in an office. I'm sad that I don't see the ladies in the photo below, but we still keep in touch. We've supported each other as bridesmaids, references for jobs and one even has a daughter in my school. (Financial Aid Student Work Study 2001-2003) The financial aid job led to an even better opportunity. Throughout my last few years of college, I worked for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. I learned how to type really fast, how to talk to adults and police officers, how the crime reporting systems work, how crimes are investigated, and how to work in an office full of men in uniform. My job was to enter traffic tickets into the reporting system. Sometimes I answered phones and dealt with the public, but it was like working in a cave. I had one job to do, and it was pretty easy. Even when I had a mountain of tickets, I could usually enter them quickly so I had some free time at work to study or do homework and they were great about working around my schedule. It was a great job. (1,000 Hour Employee at the MSHP 2003-2005) It is interesting to look back at my old jobs. Even though none of the jobs having anything to do with art or becoming a teacher, each job helped me to learn a valuable life skills. I learned how to work with others, how to talk to people, how to act professionally. Through those old positions, I built relationships with others that helped me in future jobs. Old bosses gave good recommendations on my abilities, punctuality, quality of work and dependability.
The only job I ever quit.....was the Olive Garden. Shortly before I began my student teaching, I worked at the Olive Garden for one week. I went through all of the training, and after my first shift, I knew I never wanted to go back. Thankfully, I already had a job as a teacher lined up to start a few months later and here I am, in the same job, my position has changed a little, but I've been doing the same thing since January 2006!
1 Comment
Sherri Swaim
3/10/2016 07:26:18 pm
I worked at Sonic, too! Carthage, 1992.
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Mrs. Mitchell
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