The summer that I turned fifteen, I took my first job as a part time employee at Domino's pizza. I was given a uniform and assigned to work the cash register, answer phones, and prep the food for the next day's use. All in all it wasn't that bad of a job, but I was so stressed that I was constantly making mistakes.

My first day at work I hadn't really thought much about what it would like to have a real job. All I knew was that I wanted my own money, and I was finally old enough to work somewhere. Domino's was the only place in town at the time that hired at 15, all the rest were either 16 or 18, so my choices were obviously limited.

I arrived feeling very proud of myself that I had actually landed my first job. I walked in with my head held high, prepared to listen closely to what I assumed would be a few hours of training before I was sent home. What I got in reality was a ten minute lecture about all the confusing menus on the computer, what to do after taking an order, and then I was left to answer the phones on my own. Not even thirty seconds later the phone rang. I answered it with such a squeaky voice I had to repeat myself. I looked at the blue computer screen and completely panicked.

Frantically I turned to my manager and told her that I had no idea what buttons to press. I wrote the order down on a piece of paper and she put it into the computer. I calmed myself down by slowly taking deep breaths and told myself that it was alright, I just had first day jitters. Two minutes later, when I was feeling better about myself and feeling on top of the world again, the phone rang and I broke down again.

After a few weeks I began to get better at the job. I got used to working the computer, and I didn't have a problem remembering where the buttons were. But I was still nervous and stressed out. Even though I only worked two days a week, I spent the other five worrying. I was so afraid of making a mistake. Finally I quit, and waited a year before taking another job. I think most people probably find themselves in this situation. First jobs are always going to be scary, and I think that fast food jobs can be more stressful than most. But overall it was still a good learning experience, and I'm glad I got to test the waters before there was actually a real need for me to work for money.

Learn more about this author, Nicki Marks.
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