MeaganEisner's Blog

After I my interview last week with a college student who has a history working for a brew pub in Bel Air, MD, I thought it would only be fair to talk to a college student who serves in a chain restaurant. This led me to the subject of this post, Christen E., 21, Towson, MD.

Christen is a waitress at the popular burger joint, Red Robin in Towson, MD. While service remains steady, Christen said the organization is highly over-staffed, making it hard to get hours. And we all know that less hours=less money. Christen, having been there since April, has gained some sort of seniority and is scheduled on average 2-3 days a week, which is lucky to most employees. With such few shifts, Christen still gets text messages and calls/requests from staff members every day, begging to take her shift. Before the economic slump, Christen would have been eager to give up one of her shifts to work on homework or go out with friends, but in this day and age, she is reluctant to give up any shifts for any reason, knowing that she needs all the hours she can get to make enough money for rent.

Despite these hardships, Christen remains optimistic and exerts this cheery energy that you cannot help but pick up on. Christen, like others, believes that things will get better sooner rather than later, so all she can do is remain patient and positive. She admits of wanting to give in and quit, in hopes of finding a more successful industry to work in, but with only babysitting offers coming her way, she wants to stick it out since it what she knows best…because who doesn’t love a tasty, juicy burger.

One of my favorite songs at the moment sums up this situation perfectly: “Look on the Bright Side of Life,” Rebelution.