Help! I need some encouragement

[Rhania506]

Hello everyone,
I have had a terrible few days, almost to the point of turning in my apron and just walking out. I've dealt with a load of sucky customers and my manager has decided that I am her official whipping dog.

This was not the worst of the SCs, but it is the one that bothered me the most.

A couple of professors came through my line today and I was taking their order. They were the last of a HUGE rush we had. These are professors that I know, not only because they are regular customers, but because I graduated from the college where they teach. During school I actually had regular dealings with the wife. They were counting out change, and the husband said something about "well we better hurry," or something to that effect.

His wife turns to him and says "Why? It's not like she has anything better to do."

This is not the worst thing anyone has ever said to (or about) me. But something about it made me want to cry. It was like the straw that broke the camel's back. It made my heart hurt to know that this woman that I held such respect for (and used to have a pleasant relationship with) could write me off like that.

Thank you for reading. I needed to get that off my chest.
~Rhania

Edit: Okay, so it looked longer when I was typing, but I couldn't figure out how to change the title once it was posted.
MOD EDIT: I edited the thread title for you. - Seshat.

[rerant]

How wonderful would it have been to say, "Actually, I have plenty of better things to do," then turn around and walk away?

[Imprl59]

She might have just meant that you were there anyway. I've said that to customers before myself.. Like they will apologize for taking so long on something and I tell them not to worry, I'm here another three hours anyway.

I would give her the benefit of the doubt... It might be she didn't mean to hurt your feelings, just all the rest of the sucky has piled up on you making it seem worse.

[Rhania506]

I would give her the benefit of the doubt... It might be she didn't mean to hurt your feelings, just all the rest of the sucky has piled up on you making it seem worse.

Logically, I know this. I've just had a crappy week. I don't think it would have bothered me so much if I hadn't been thinking along the same lines myself. I have a good degree and I'm working for peanuts and getting treated like crap. Then here is someone who helped me towards that degree not only seeing me work in this environment but shovelling more crap in my direction. (At least that's how I interpreted it at the time.)

Like I said, whole load of sucky customers this week. I had a customer tell my manager (not the sucky one) that I must be on drugs. Why?? Because I used the word "Groovy". He and I both had a laugh about that.

~Rhania

[thehippie777]

totally know the feeling...I am often TOLD that I have nothing better to do but play games. I got to the point where I look at people with a state of death & tell them, "Actually they keep me very busy here. I have pleanty to do, thanks."

[Seshat]

People who grew up and took on jobs in the generation before mine (I'm a so-called 'Generation X') did so during an era of financial boom. Most of the middle-class and higher walked straight into work after college, and spent at least a decade in their first jobs. Even the lower classes often spent a decade in their first jobs, building careers in their fields.

So when generation X left school and college and struggled for six months or a year to find a job flipping burgers after college, our parents blamed us - and I'll stop before I get bitter.

Annnnnywaay. If your professor and his wife are older than their forties, they probably have no clue what life has been like for everyone younger than them.

It doesn't help much, but - well. It kind of sort of helps to understand their flippant and hurtful remarks. A bit.

[iviles]

Hey dont let it get you down! Just keep thinking that this is only a stepping stone to a new job that your collage education will get you. When people look down at me at my job I get heated but I just think of that stack of bills on my table and know this is just a means to an end till I get something better. So chin up in a couple of years you'll probably be making more then her husband.

[Slytovhand]

My 2cents worth...

I agree with you Rhania - she was a sucky person. That sort of blatant line is intended to be demeaning (whether it was conscious or not...). She was being rude, and obviously thought it was ok - because no-one has pulled her up on it.

As for your straws... great! Use that to your advantage. If you've decided to leave, then you won't need to take ppl's crap any more - which means you can feel free to give it back (by either dumping it on them, or pointing out just how sucky they were being...).

Yep - it's only a job. I think the big question is... what do you really want to achieve in this life of yours? And what are you doing towards it?


Slyt

[chainedbarista]

there is a certain lacking in class on her part; yes, it's your job, but to say such a thing implies that you're some sort of reject, which is far from the reality.

it's hard for us to do, but we have to look at it as something is missing on her part and move on (i'm trying to do this myself; it's hard when someone insults your intelligence and capabilities like that...).

just keep fighting the good fight; that job you've been working for is out there, you just haven't found it yet.

[marty]

totally know the feeling...I am often TOLD that I have nothing better to do but play games. I got to the point where I look at people with a state of death & tell them, "Actually they keep me very busy here. I have pleanty to do, thanks."

Oh I hate that. Hate hate hate! Yeah, because I'm not busting my ass to keep the store looking good after you let little precious go on a rampage with the walls...