This is my second vacation since I entered university in 2010. Over the previous summer vacation, I was spending a lot of time and many days taking English courses at the university and reading books to simply occupy my bored mind with joy and passion again. I also tried to find a part time job like many others, but I couldn’t help thinking that it might take up too much of my free time and I finally came to forget about it. However, as time went by, I was eager to prove to my parents that I was grown up and able to do what I wanted by myself. That’s how I came to start working at an ice cream store.
I really wanted to work in a place that had a good atmosphere like a library or a cafe, but working at an ice cream store presented another kind of experience and a chance to realize the importance of working on my own and maybe even to understand the troubles that many workers deal with around the world. I was convinced that no matter what my working conditions were or how much I might get paid, an opportunity to work would help me broaden my view toward society. I think, I was sincerely happy about that opportunity even before I started to work.
After I started working, I learned more about myself other than how to scoop ice cream, how to balance accounts, and the way to take inventory by the end of working hours. At first I was confident that I’d be able to master all of those things quickly and well, but it was not easy. I often had difficulty moving quickly and having a flexible attitude. For example, I tended to focus on whatever I was doing, but I did not care about what others were doing. I really was not a good team player. Now I can clearly say that I learned some necessary and important lessons through my work experience.
Writing about my part time job experience made me realize that regardless of the type of job, the ability and opportunity to work is a beautiful thing. Before starting my part time job, I was quite skeptical about doing work because it seemed to take time that I could otherwise spend enjoying other hobbies and on self-improvement. I was also slightly skeptical about what I could gain from the job other than physical pain and mental stress. However, it turned out that it was actually worth it to try once and face it directly. Thinking back, I was lucky to have a chance to work. I would like to recommend you take the opportunity to find a part time job before your school days are over.