I am working as a service porter over summer as a full-time position to make more money, while taking full time college courses.

In order to become a lifeguard, I went through an intense three-day training through the YMCA, where I was certified in First Aid, Basic Life Saving, and Emergency Oxygen. When it came time to actually work, I was constantly aware of my surroundings, as I had to be on watch over the entire pool, and to enforce rules. Often I had to face challenges surrounding people who were unwilling to follow the rules, even after multiple warnings. It challenged me to not only communicate well with my coworkers, but to develop my leadership skills, as I was in charge of other people's safety. Throughout the job, I was required to be a good team member, thorough, and focused. The training also fueled my interest for future jobs within the healthcare system.

I worked in an assisted living care place to feed up to 60 people twice a day, where shifts were anywhere between 4-8 hours, including serving and bussing tables. Much of the time I worked there, we did not have a manager, so often I would train temporary staff, including on my very first day where I was trained in the morning and required to train staff for that evening shift, as I was the only permanent staff member, while completing serving the tables. I was also in charge of locking up and cleaning everything. Often we were understaffed, so while I was serving, I would take on other responsibilities, such as dishwashing, food preparation, cooking, and some managing skills, as the job required excellent communication. It also taught me how to handle challenging situations, and required me to develop my communication and patience skills, as many of the residents had a difficult time communicating their needs.