Greeter by Samantha

Greeter by Samantha - January 2024 Scholarship Essay

In a small town in backwoods Alabama, I had a job as a greeter at a local seafood restaurant. I didn’t do much other than green, seat customers and clean up.
This was my first job ever, so I gave it my all. I tried to be cheerful, but not too cheerful, reliable and punctual. I enjoyed my coworkers and became friends with many of them.
One day a customer came in and asked why I was happy. I told him that when I got up this morning, I told myself it was going to be a good day (I struggle with anxiety and depression so I have learned ways that help me cope). I didn’t think anything of it and I went about my shift.
A few days later, in the work group chat, a supervisor said a customer had left a public review that mentioned what I said and how it helped to turn his outlook around that day and brought a smile to his face. The supervisor asked in the chat if I had been the one to say that. I was pleased that my coworkers and supervisors knew me well enough to think the customer would be talking about me.
About a week later, several of the employees (including me) were laid off due to low customers because of COVID. That’s a crummy ending to that job experience, but it was a good job that I look back on with fondness.