Surprisingly enough, one of my favorite activities is working, specifically as a barista at Cabin Fever Coffee.  After two years and nearly countless hours, I decided that high school athletics were not for me.  Sitting around the house and twiddling my thumbs was not going to be an option, so in July of last summer, I set out to achieve my first job.  Along with plenty of other high school students across the nation, my fist working position was with the wonderful corporation of McDonald’s.  In short, my experience was awful, and I began to hate my job after a few weeks.  I immediately began to look for another job, and after discovering that a job at a local coffee shop, Cabin Fever Coffee, was available, I applied and did everything possible to get the job.  It worked out and I was hired in November.  Thus, my job as a barista in a small town coffee shop became one of my favorite activities I devote my time to.

A Barista, which is Italian for bartender, is “ a person, usually a coffeehouse employee, who prepares and serves espresso-based coffee drinks.”  My job at Cabin constitutes much more than that, however.  In addition to manually pulling espresso, steaming milk, and distributing respective syrups and sauces, I operate a cash register, brew drip coffee, steep tea, bake pastries, prepare sandwiches and wraps, open and close the store, bag and sell candy, and plenty of other responsibilities. 

The most important of aspect of job is connecting with our customers.  In the past, Cabin was owned by a church and served as a non-external profit organization to spark friendships and connect with others.  The business is no longer owned by a Christian organization, but the focus has still remained largely the same.  Workers at Cabin are encouraged to make friendships with customers more than anything else.  There are few activities more satisfying than having a customer walk in, being able to recognize him and know his name, and then maintain a genuine conversation with him if the work is slow enough to allow it.  I love coffee as much as anyone, and having free drinks on shift is great, but it is the connections and friendships that re the most rewarding and give me the most pride.  I work a decent amount of hours, and sometimes it is difficult to balance work and school while maintaining the grades I strive towards, but I know it’s worth it.  I love knowing that I’m making a difference in my community.  It is for these reasons that I absolutely love my job as a barista for Cabin Fever Coffee.