It was the start of my senior year of high school, and I decided that it was time that I got some real world experience by applying for a job. Sure, I’d had trivial occupations before like babysitting and random errands for my parents, but never anything that required presenting my social security number or paying federal taxes. I wanted to be able to put something non-school related on my resume. The answer: Great American Cookies.

Apparently GAC was very desperate for workers because thirty minutes after my interview, the manager handed me an apron and told me to get work. Throughout my five months at GAC, I gained insight into the life of a food service worker. I learned just how rude customers could be, and what it truly meant to have a mental breakdown in the cookie dough freezer. While there were definitely shifts in which I wanted to walk out and never return, highlights of GAC included the ability to choose what music we wanted to play during our shift.

If Great American Cookies were to offer me a job again, would I take it? Absolutely not. However, I would encourage anyone who is looking for their first job to consider GAC.