Employees who toil at jobs in
retail stores and restaurants often leave comments and complaints on a certain online
forum. Sadly, sometimes tactless customers point to cashiers, sales associates,
or servers and warn their kids, “If you don’t study hard, you’re going to end
up like her [or him].”
That’s so rude and
disrespectful. It’s nobody’s business if someone chooses to work at a store or
restaurant. Some people actually prefer to work at those places. Customers are
too quick to assume that the cashier, sales associate, or server isn’t capable
of finding a better job.
Yes, it’s true that some
individuals might not have the skills to get better jobs. However, many retail
and restaurant employees are working their way through college, and that type
of employment suits their schedules. And individuals who have retired from successful
careers often work at retail jobs because they want to keep active or to supplement
their retirement incomes. One woman, who was formerly a hair stylist, recently
retired from her job at the cosmetics department of a neighborhood store—at the
age of 84.
When I was a cashier/sales
associate at Smart Mart, no parent ever pointed to me and told their child, “If
you don’t study hard, you’ll end up like her.” Maybe people were just a tad more
respectful in that area. Then again, that city was located in a somewhat
economically depressed part of the state. Well-paying, full-time jobs
were hard to find there.
However, if any parents had pointed me out to their children as
an obviously bad example, I would have told them, “I am studying hard, and
guess what? I’m on the dean’s list. Furthermore, I’m going to move out of this
area and get a better job just as soon as I finish the requirements for my
degree.”
And I did.
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