I had mentioned a while back that I had started a new job but I hadn't specified where. But that's about to change :)
In October 2020, I was blessed with the opportunity to start a new job at Starbucks. This has always been something that I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime but the idea of working for such a large company, and something that is so fast paced scared the life out of me. But the opportunity came to me because one of my teammate's mom was opening a new location and had heard that I was a barista at a local coffee shop. She wanted me to come work for her! I literally couldn't believe that something like this was happening and couldn't even think about passing it up. I decided to take the job with a little hesitancy and decided to work two jobs in case I ended up hating my new job at Starbucks. Looking back at that decision now, I can't believe I doubted it a little bit.
Starbucks, more specifically "my" Starbucks, has done so much for me in just a short 6 months and it continues to. I say "my" Starbucks because it's the store I started at, it's the store I worked at on opening day and have been a part of the growing process since the beginning. This post's goal is to explain how much good that Starbucks has done for me but also to address the people that have impacted me the most.
Starbucks gave me a safe place and provided me with resources that I don't think I would have seeked out otherwise. I have never been so happy to go into work until I started working at Starbucks. Every time I think I don't want to go to work, I walk in, and my mind has changed. Regardless of how busy or how much of a shit show the day is or the store is at when I get there, I never fail to have a good shift by the end of the day. And if you had told me that 6 months in I would be going for a promotion in such a big company, I would have laughed.
Bekah, our store manager, our mama bear :) never ever made me feel like I couldn't text her about work or anything really. She cares so much about her partners. She makes it a point to connect with each and every one of us outside of just work chat. She does her best to accommodate each and every one of our schedules and our goals. I can't say enough about her patience, compassion, her kind heart, etc. I couldn't have asked for a better store manager to start my journey at Starbucks.
My best friend Bailey, a fellow partner, who I worked with on opening night has been one of the greatest gifts to come from Starbucks. She is the sweetest, most caring person I have met. I know that when I talk about something with Bailey she is completely open to hearing about it and not in the least bit judgmental which is something that is hard to find in a friend these days. She brings one of the most healthy friendships I have had into my life and I am eternally grateful for it.
Oh god and then there's Zack; my other opening night buddy, he's a mess lol. I have worked about 85% of my shifts with Zack. He was the main supervisor that I worked with. He makes our shifts fun and is a great leader, but when it's time to talk business he gets right to it. He has been who I try to model my leadership skills after. I remember walking into my opening night, my first shift not being a trainee but being a fellow partner, both him and Bailey were so easy to talk to, so welcoming, and most of all made things fun for me and not at all stressful. In probably less than 2 months of being a partner Zack told me that I would make a great supervisor and here I am, getting ready to step into my new role as a supervisor.
I could sit here and write about each and every one of my night shift partners: Mason, Kayla, Chuck, Nathan, and Joey, not to mention the other partners I have worked with throughout my time; but I would be writing for days. To say that my night shift at Starbucks on 118th and Quaker is my second family is an understatement. The gift of being able to walk into work and know that no matter what kind of day I'm having, the store is having, or anyone is having, we are all going to walk out of that store at 9:30 pm with a smile on our faces. I remember being sad on the days I don't work because I didn't know what else to do with myself than to get to work and make money, and spend time with my friends at the same time.
Today, I start my training at a new store and will then be transferred to a more permanent location as a shift supervisor, just like Zack said I would be. I am of course going into it with an open mind and excitement to meet new people and make more friends, but I will 100% miss my night shift crew at "my" Starbucks. It will always be where my journey at Starbucks began :')
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