By Bo
My first two days on the job were a blur of fast-paced work and constant encouragement from coworkers telling me how good I was doing. After a brief sick spell that forced me to call in just as many days as I’d worked, I came back to smiling faces and found my rhythm again. I’m grateful and giving all the glory to God.
Working in the student dining hall felt like a gift. I live in a shelter, and the peace I felt just being at work made me grateful. I showed up on cloud nine every day, talking to students in line, reminding them to keep pushing, to believe in themselves, to study hard. I’d say things like, “Hey, if no one told you today, I believe in you.” They’d smile and come back for “the Bo Special,” which was just my way of adding a little extra flavor or swapping chips for tortillas. It wasn’t fancy, but it made people feel good.
But then a lazy coworker started draining my energy, and I accidentally rubbed the head director the wrong way over a backwards hat. Things started to feel tense. I kept my focus, though. I knew I was in the right place.
Then came a tough week. I spent three straight days at the busier dining hall for an event. Less help, triple the crowd. I was overwhelmed. Cooking 250 servings wasn’t something I’d done before. Every minute mattered. If you were late, you heard about it. Even though I was still learning, I gave it everything I had.
That’s when people started noticing not just the food, but how I made them feel. Students, staff, and clients would line up with big smiles. They made me feel seen. But when I found out I was staying another week at that hall, I wasn’t thrilled. I felt stretched thin, and the workplace suddenly got tense. Within days, they fired ten people. I started to wonder if I’d be next.
To ground myself, I made it a point to greet the director every morning: “Good morning, sir.” He never said much, but I stayed visible. One day, I was told he wanted to see me. My heart dropped. I walked into a room with both executive chefs and the director. No one said anything.
I asked, “Am I fired?”
He looked at me and said, “Actually, you’re doing a great job.”
He handed me five printouts, including emails and surveys from students and staff praising my service, my attitude, and my food. He even gave me a gift card and took me shopping at the campus store.
On the walk over, I shared a little bit of my story, including how I live at a shelter, yet show up every day not just to cook, but to inspire. He appreciated hearing it.
I didn’t change who I was to get here. I stayed true to myself. And it turns out that’s exactly what made the biggest impact.
