Last summer, I got my first summer job. It is an unforgettable and meaningful memory. As a new waitress, I faced different problems. Yet meanwhile, I also learnt something valuable and useful.
At first, I did not intend to be a waitress because I doubted my ability in serving others and I hated smiling. The salary of a waitress in a brand-new restaurant, however, was really attractive to me. Therefore, I still applied for this summer job. Unfortunately, my personality almost ruined the first step in my career path and caused lots of trouble to me. The two problems which I got as a waitress were that first, I broke lots of plates when I delivered the dishes to customers, and second, I had such a frosty look that the customers complained about my working attitude.
These problems did not knock me down. Instead, I tried to solve them one by one. In order to be more cautious, I stayed at the restaurant every workday late to practise my dish-delivering skill by holding several dishes on my hands and walking around the restaurant as steadily as possible. I also set some barriers like chairs and plants to create challenges for myself. Gradually, the hard work paid off and I could eventually break no dishes at all. After solving the first problem, I shifted my focus onto the second problem. Every morning, I practised smiling in front of a mirror. When I watched TV or read newspapers, I learnt smiling by imitating the pop stars and statesmen who can always flash a pretty smile. At last, I invited my boss and parents to be the examiners and grade my smile. Although I did not get an ‘A’, I got thumbs up from them! What a surprise to me.
Apart from solving the problems, I have also learnt something from the job. The job, most importantly, taught me how to overcome difficulties by myself. When I noticed I had these problems, I did not know who my saviour could be. Yet I suddenly realized that if I make efforts and search for solutions, I could ‘save’ myself. People cannot always count on others to help solve their problems. They also have the responsibility to look for solutions. It feels incredibly fantastic after I solve a difficulty by myself. What is more, I have learnt that the return will become meaningful if we work hard to perform at our best. After receiving the first salary in my life, great happiness and satisfaction poured into my heart. I immediately believed that my efforts were worthwhile. Now I start understanding the reason why people desperately find a job and why they work very hard even though their salaries are the same throughout the year. Reaping without sowing is definitely meaningless.
I will say being a waitress is my first taste of a career. Although both playing and studying are still essential in my summer vacation, a summer job will become vital as well starting from my next summer break.