Speaking with my supervisor was really the first time I’ve spoken to the management aside from communicating with them picking up shifts, letting them know a machine was broken, or saying the common courtesy of “Hello” and “See you later!” on the way to either clock-in or clock-out. It was really nice to have a genuine conversation with those that I call my boss(es) because it showed me that even though they are in a position of authority, they appreciate the hard work I’ve put in. Not only did it further reveal to me that my supervisor was always there to help me, but it showed me that they actually cared about me outside of work which was super comforting. Especially when being so far away from home, this sense of having a trusted adult if I ever needed anything is super comforting.
Beyond the support that they’ve shown me, having a discussion with my supervisor allowed me to reflect on what all the hours I’ve put in really mean to me and the lessons that I’ve inherently learned since being part of the workforce at Wesleyan. A couple of the skills that I’ve been able to practice again and again given my regular shifts at Weshop are time management and holding myself accountable. Both of these skills are essential to being able to work while also balancing my academics, my social life, along with my mental health. Last semester, I worked two late shifts a week and this was helpful for me because I made an Oath to myself that I would have all my work done before going to work so that I could be focused. Due to the fact that I was committed to completing my work for the next day, work provided me with a place to relax. It, in a way, became distinct from my academic life, since I could essentially turn my academic brain off when on the clock. This helped me be more present with customers and my fellow colleagues.
Additionally, being thrust into a work environment that is so people-oriented, in the notion that you are constantly saying hello and seeing new and familiar places, I felt as an employee it was important to bring the same level of enthusiasm as customers, and even more important to bring more energy to those customers that seemed to be having a bad day. This, at first, was a scary adjustment as a freshman who recognized some faces, but not many and wasn’t sure if they would recognize her. I’m generally pretty shy until I get to know someone. So, Weshop in some ways helped me overcome my fear and instilled the importance of being able to set aside my own feeling for a certain time being and being able to reset to be the best version of myself for others.
I rarely am behind the counter by myself, which means I always have a “partner-in-crime” to work my shift. Oftentimes, the lives of the lead registers and my fellow student workers are drastically different from mine and it’s a pleasure to be able to get to know them, and tap into their knowledge, while also sharing mine. While at times, when the shop is slow, I always know that there’s someone else to talk to, just another opportunity to expand and strengthen my community.
