Paul Lerum

• I started this job with the intention to expand my social life and talking skills with people because I was letting people get to me and over my head; I had to change. This job created friendships and bonds that pushed me to become a better person. From not being able to talk to anyone for over thirty seconds to now being able to create and keep a conversation going for however long is needed. With that, it has caused new dreams and desires for my life. After talking to seven hundred-plus people a day and investing my heart, time, and memory in customers, it caused an impact. Something this job has made me passionate about is ensuring people have a good day and everything with their trip was positive. Dutch Bros is known for being a positive environment where you greet every customer with positivity and energy, even during stressful, rushed, or even life events I carry to work. Staying calm under pressure has always been a talent for me; this job has only made it easier. Staying calm and efficient under pressure from others, keeping the lines of cars moving. Dutch Bros' menu is massive, with a variety of coffees, teas, lemonades, and custom drinks using a bunch of machines and blenders, making memorization a key trait. Customers always have requests, and being able to have patience and attention is important in this industry so you can always meet that expectation. During rushes, things get tossed, unorganized, and all over the place, being able to clean quickly and efficiently while staying constant on drinks being put out. With the amount of demand from this one job, I one hundred percent know that you need to arrive early and ready for work no matter the occasion or event that happened. My teammates need me and my presence at work; if not, it causes a domino effect that can disrupt the flow of how things need to be run. Working well with coworkers is massive; it keeps everyone in sync during fast-paced times. It gives everyone the support everyone needs. Through this job, I’ve developed strong communication skills, quick decision-making, and the ability to stay positive no matter the challenge, making it a very astronomically beneficial job in my life.

• During my time at Abby's Pizza, there was a lot of learning, especially with accuracy and speed. I managed to register with accuracy and speed while applying coupons, calculating totals, and processing cash and card payments while keeping the line moving. Through the stage of life as a pizza maker, I prepared ingredients by chopping vegetables, making dough, and staying on top of daily tasks to keep the kitchen running smoothly so we could get out as many pizzas as possible. There were many positions at this job, making it enjoyable. We cooked pizzas in massive ovens, using many different types of equipment to prepare and serve the pizza and sides to people. Slicing to match the size and requests of people, making sure the customer leaves the store happy and has the food they imagined. As people came and left that job, there were many times people needed training. I helped new hires around, making them comfortable and showing them the do's and don'ts of the pizza shop. I stepped in when things were hectic, tickets printing every second, keeping things steady and flowing. Learning new things every day, I was always aiming to support my team and get the job done every day. I learned more ways of how to stay calm under pressure and solve problems quickly, whether it was a missing order or equipment issue. Overall, Abby's Pizza surprisingly improved my life, adding a new set of skills to my abilities.

• Being a host was overall a great experience. It opened my eyes to the professionalism part of industries. It was a very classy, fancy restaurant with a great vibe. Greeted every guest with a warm welcome and helped set the tone for a positive dining experience. During my time there, I worked closely with servers, bussers, and food runners to keep the dining area clean, organized, and ready for the next group of guests. There were many tables in this restaurant, causing one to manage table arrangements and seating quickly to accommodate large parties or special requests. While working, I watched over areas like restrooms and entryways to ensure they were clean and safe throughout every shift. Rearranged tables and chairs for families while cleaning as I went. I answered customers' questions about hours, menu items, wait times, and any need they asked. Even though the customers were the rudest at this place in my overall work experience, I stayed alert and proactive with a good attitude, ready to make a good impact on others. This restaurant was amazing towards me, opening my eyes to the fine dining experience

At the ripe age of fourteen, I wanted a job and had been dreaming about getting one. Before this I was doing lemonade stands and small cleaning businesses in and around my neighborhood. I jumped from playing outside every day to doing the most hours they would let someone my age do. At first I didn't thrive in the fast-paced environment they had; it took a second to grapple with. I worked 10-hour shifts, managing more than one station and lanes of traffic outside in the drive-through. It sprouted new time management skills that I didn't have before, making me quick and efficient without sacrificing the quality of my service. This job introduced me to a wide variety of multitasking abilities that I never encountered before I got employed. McDonald's has a lot of new people all the time. It exposed me to the real world, and I got to see new people and how others live their lives beyond my home. I gained the skills to become a clear communicator while being friendly, direct, and professional. Overall, I was changed by this job, as it was my first. It officially started my drive to work and to work hard.