Member-only story
Waitressing Was the Therapy I Needed at 16
Growing self-esteem and finding my second family in the most unlikely place
Back in my high school days, I was a shy teenager who spent most of my time at home, reading, and watching Japanese cartoons. My issues went deeper than plain shyness, though. I’d been bullied and ostracized throughout my teen years and could barely look people in the eye. I had been in therapy to work on my anxiety and low self-esteem. This gave me tools to deal with negative thoughts, but I still had no idea how to function in social situations. I did reconnect with a childhood friend who went to the same school, but I still couldn’t seem to get along with my other peers.
One spring evening, I went to get sushi and, as I was waiting for my food, a paper notice on the door caught my eye. The restaurant was looking for part-time weekend staff. My friend and I had been playing with the idea of getting a job, so I jokingly brought it up at school the next day. She decided we would bike to the restaurant that day after classes were over.
I was a nervous wreck during the interview. I wanted to crawl into the chair and disappear. Hunched over in my black sweater, my dark hair covering my face, I didn’t look anything like a budding waitress. But they were very short-staffed and decided to hire me…
