I have worked in a restaurant for over six years. There are an array of customers that I have come across in that time. The person who will complain to get meals for free, the person who refuses to tip, and the person who believes they can speak to restaurant help whatever way they please.
 
First, there are a few things everyone should know before going to any sort of restaurant:

1. Servers do not cook your food. In the case that your food is not prepared correctly, do not scream at the server. Robots also did not cook your food, so try to be understanding. We are only human and occasionally we do make mistakes. When you cuss and scream, you look like an asshole.

2. Hourly employees, and even mangers, do not decide menu prices, owners and franchise executives do. In the situation that your favorite item on the menu went up in price, and you find the need to ramble on very rudely about how it is now even more overpriced, remember, you CHOOSE to go out to eat. If you do not want to spend a little bit of money, please cook at home because you look like a cheap asshole.

3. Servers do not make the schedule and decide how many employees will be working. Sometimes restaurants get busy and are slightly under prepared, so your food may take longer than normal. Do not ask ten times what is taking so long when you can clearly see every person in the restaurant is busting their butt. If you cannot take a hint and still find the need to ask, please know you look like an impatient asshole.

4. Tips should be based upon service. Going out to eat, getting a drink at a bar, and getting food delivered all requires a tip. If your food sucked, the music playing was terrible, and other customers annoyed you, but the service was good, a tip is required. Not tipping, when a tip is due, makes you look like the worst kind of asshole.
 
Second, there are ways to be a good customer and make your experience more enjoyable:

1. Good customers have manners. ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’, go a long way.
2. Good customers realize people working in the food and service industry make next to nothing in hourly wages and rely on tips to survive.
3. Good customers realize prices are so cheap in restaurants because employees are paid so little, because customers are expected to tip, which compensates for that missing pay.
4. Good customers do not yell, cuss, and cause scenes inside of a business.
5. Good customers do not have unreasonable expectations. For example, going to a two star restaurant and expecting five star food and service.
6. Good customers realize we are all just humans, trying to make some sort of money and get through the day.

Everyone's life is made up of moments. Some are easily forgotten, but some become memories that last a lifetime. Some moments are magical and some are horrifying. Some seem like no big deal, but later become the fork in the road that changed your life. Sometimes we do not know when moments will become major memories, but sometimes you know right then that this moment will be with you forever, like a photograph in your mind.

In my life so far, I have had many major moments that turned into permanent memories. Most of them are positive, like graduating high school and falling in love. Some are embarrassing like the time I ran into a telephone pole and fractured my toe. But the moment a few days ago when my family's fears were confirmed, that my dad has lung cancer, will become another one of those major moments.

He had symptoms of a health issue for months, but was stubborn and assumed it was not a major deal. After seeing a doctor and getting some tests done they confirmed our worst nightmare.

The moment I figured out was when I listened to a seventeen second voicemail from my dad. Every time my dad has left me a voicemail in the past it had always started the same, "Hey Nad, it's dad", but not this one. He went straight to the point. He did not go into detail or cry, he just informed me that he would be going to a cancer center for treatment in the near future and if I wanted to I could give him a call back. He acted as though it was just another normal day, and a normal call, with average news.

It was far from average though. I was so upset thinking he would never be able to walk me down the aisle when I get married. He would not get to see me grow as a person and be apart of my life. This cancer could take his life and there is nothing I can do about it.

After the initial mourning, I decided not to let cancer win. I remain positive and pray that he will make it through treatment with a clean bill of health. Eventually,  this situation will not be looked back on with tears of sadness.

This is one of those moments that will become a memory for me. This is a memory that will begin the triumphant story of how my dad kicked cancer's ass.

 
When I graduated high school several years ago, I was set to go to a four year university to get my degree and ultimately find a traditional job.  I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to make tons of money.

Choosing business school five years ago was not a decision I put much thought into. I knew I would have room for advancement in my job and the pay would be good.  I would work long days and my career would likely be my life. At the time I was okay with that. At that time I was not in love, I did not have my two babies (dogs), I did not live on my own, and I did not know how valuable time truly was.

I made it through seven semesters of school, and only had two more to complete, when I decided that the life I was working toward was not the life I wanted. People told me, and still tell me, to finish my degree so I have a backup plan. Finish my degree so I at least have a degree. Finish my degree for all sorts of reasons. These are the things I had also been telling myself for at least two years.

I continued on in school for the duration I did, because I was afraid that people would judge me. I was afraid that people would think I was doing nothing with my life. I was afraid people would think I had no goals. I was afraid... that was it.
I was afraid to follow my own dream, because it did not align with what other’s had dreamed for me. My passion was never to be an accountant or economist. My passion was telling stories.

Letting others control the way I choose to live my life is a thing of the past now. I have goals and dreams. I want to live a productive life where I am successful in whatever I choose to do. I made the decision to no longer allow others to influence what I do with my future. After all, I am the one who has to live the life that I build for myself.

I love writing, I love telling stories, I even like doing research and learning about new things. I have always been this way. I just know writers often spend most of their lives struggling because everyone cannot be the next New York Times best-selling author.

I am still choosing to pursue my dreams even though the odds may not be in my favor. Some people are content living their lives working a job they hate, just because the pay is good. Some people forge their own paths in order to follow their dreams. They choose happiness and freedom over money.