Rachel Schapira

Mr. Harbron

Composition

10/18/22

Journey to Server

I’ve always gone through life with a motto in the back of my mind; hard work pays off. If

you want something, you have to work for it. I began working in the food industry when I was

15 years old, just after the pandemic had hit. I worked as a Jack runner and Busser, taking out

food and cleaning off tables. This helped me gain lots of experience in and out of the workplace.

I grew as an employee and a person, as well as learning how to effectively communicate. I

watched the servers go by daily, and always knew that was what I wanted to do. But, there was

one thing stopping me: my age. I could not serve drinks until I turned 18. In November of 2021, I

got a new restaurant job as a Hostess. After months of working there, I asked for a raise. I was

awarded with a raise, and accredited this to the concepts that you are your best advocate and if

you want something, you need to go after it.

In June of 2022, I was informed by my manager that laws had changed and you could

now serve drinks at 17. I had been wanting to serve for months, so I was thrilled to pursue this

opportunity. All that I had to do was go online, take a course and pass the test. I stayed up all

night that night doing the course and studying so I could pass the test. After getting a 92%, I was

so excited for my next work day where I could let my manager know that I’d gotten certified.

The next day, I walked into work, certificate in hand. I gazed over at the wooden host stand,

which made my smile grow ear to ear. I wasted no time and walked right up to my manager,

handing him the certificate. He congratulated me, which made my feelings of accomplishment
grow even larger. I always knew that I was a hard worker, but the recognition is what motivated

me. He then informed me of my next steps. I was to complete 5 days of training and then pass

the menu test. Sounds easy, right? That’s what I thought, too.

Though I had worked in restaurants for years, nothing could’ve prepared me for the

incredibly difficult work of being a server. Growing up shy, this was really out of my comfort

zone, but I was eager to challenge myself. Serving requires much mental and physical stamina

that not everyone is capable of expending. From learning how to manage your time, being able to

answer questions, and remembering all of your responsibilities for each table you serve--serving

can be very difficult. My first day of training, I was terrified. I followed around my coworker as

she taught me everything I needed to know. I was extremely overwhelmed, and began to doubt

that I could persevere. Towards the end of my first day training, she began to let me greet her

tables for her, which was especially nerve wracking. I spoke a mile a minute as I greeted the

table, and from that moment I knew I had a lot to work on.

The next days of training went by fairly quickly, with the same routine each day. I was

getting better and better by the day, but still not proficient. My fifth and final training day rolled

around, and feelings of excitement and nervousness swirled around inside of me. At the end of

the day, my manager approached me and offered to show me a study guide for the menu test. He

explained that, in order to pass the test, I must memorize all of the foods on the menu and

everything in each item. In addition to that, I would have to provide information on drinks, prices

and other frequently asked questions. I began to panic, thinking I would never be able to pass

this test. Feelings of disappointment set in and were then followed by nausea. I had to pass this

test. The panic led to motivation that allowed me to persevere. Over the next week, I studied for

hours each day, with the help of friends and family, too. Each day I improved and started to
believe in myself again. On the morning of the test, tense feelings of exhilaration sat inside of

my stomach like a brick. This was my one chance to become a server, which I had been wanting

for so long. I studied one last time, got ready for work, and left my house, ready to give it my all.

Hard work and determination made me sure I would pass this test soon enough.

As I sat in the high-top chair with my mechanical pencil, I was extraordinarily stressed.

After receiving the test, I skipped through all of the pages. It was an 8-page test. Internally, I was

alarmed, but I made sure to keep cool and use all of the knowledge I’d gained and everything I’d

prepared myself with. I began writing everything I knew. My pencil did not stop moving until I’d

written down every bit of information my brain could hold. After about 30 minutes, I handed my

test in. My manager informed me that I would receive a call the next morning informing me of

whether or not I had passed the test and could start serving.

I woke up the next morning both eager and neurotic. As I brewed my daily cup of coffee,

I heard my phone ring. It was my manager. I leapt across the kitchen counter, nearly spilling my

freshly brewed cup of joy, and snatched my phone up, immediately picking up the call. My

stomach sank as he greeted me. Words could barely flow out of my system due to the feelings of

uneasiness, until he said one word that caught my attention: congratulations. I thanked him,

saying I’d be in to serve later that night. I hung up the phone and screamed for joy, dancing all

around my house. I had done it. From there, I was so proud of myself for pursuing this

opportunity and felt very satisfied with myself. In the end, I learned that I am capable of

anything I put my mind to, and confirmed, yet again, that hard work does pay off.