Danielle Baker

Okay, well technically, yes. I am a waitress. But anyone who has ever served before can tell you it is a lot more than just taking orders and refilling Diet Cokes. The way I see it is I am customer service rep, making sure any problem is dealt with appropriately. I am an actress; convincing you that there is nowhere better I would like to be on a Saturday night. I am marketing that up-sell from a 16-ounce everyday Bud Light, to a 22-ounce seasonal Sam Adams Oktoberfest (“It’s only here for a limited time!”). I am multi-tasking; jumping table to table, seating parties, taking take-out orders, while still keeping an eye on that Diet Coke I have already refilled four times. If you roll this all together, and don’t forget to include avid dancer in the hutches, you get a server. I grew up in Foxboro, MA, where I graduated from Foxboro High School in 2009. From there I want to Suffolk University. When I entered Suffolk in the fall of 2009, I had entered as a graphic design major. When I had applied as a graphic design major, my original plan was to design ads. However, a couple weeks in I had taken a turn towards the communications department to focus more on the advertising side. I graduated Suffolk University Cum Laude in 2013 with my Bachelors of Arts. A few months prior to graduation I had decided that I wanted to continue my education after undergrad, so as of this semester I am a candidate for my Master of Arts with a focus on Advertising and Public Relations at Suffolk. I am a full time student, and a part-time waitress at the 99 Restaurant in Foxboro. Over the past few years I have had various internships working with social media, design, research, copywriting, public relations, and media planning. While serving is not my long-term plan, I do believe that everyone once in his or her life should be a server. While it can be an aggravating job, I believe it prepares you for your next big step. Whether that next big step is continuing your education, or stepping out into your chosen career path, I believe serving gives you the steps necessary to succeed. I have an up-beat personality, which has stuck with me since high school, and serving has been given me an incredible work-ethic. And with that I leave you with my thoughts, a little bit about me, and advice: “Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you believe that you too can become great.”