I am leaving my job for another company this made me think how awful it's been for me, I have been working at different places since I was sixteen years old due to my birthgivers wanting me to earn my own money and use it on things I need
I first earned my money at a fast food place, it sucked!! It was dumb minor things that some people would not see as a big deal, but as a teenager it was. I could not paint my nails despite being only a cashier, my shoes had to be this anti slip shoes that cost a lot (i never bought them), I had to wear a hat, and miss out on events with my friends or come to things smelling like gross ass pasta.
Also the cops have been called on the place, it was mainly due to a drug dealer being caught or a assault in the kitchen. I was almost fired multiple times because of a jerk of a customer constantly complaining about me, and workers taken advantage of me. It was sooo easy to play stupid though or fuck up whatever they told me to do, but than I left hoping I could just be a cashier at a grocery store.
Nope! They needed a cheese shop clerk. It was the same stories, only I smelled like cheese. I did get a higher pay rate, but it was not great. My department lead hated me and almost got me fired at least 5 times (thank god for unions), my coworkers hated me because I did not value my place, and it took 9 long years to finally leave.
Yeah its a another job, but it suddenly hit me. I can wear my nail polish again, I did do them off and on but mainly was told no. I can look less like a worn out kid in a hoodie on laundry day and wear what I please, I can switch out my septum, and wear whatever jewelry I want. This is also a remote job so no commute!! It's not perfect, but god I have not been this happy in a long time, and my advice to parents who wants to send their kid off to some fast food joint at sixteen where they can be assaulted, talked dirty to and have a majority of their teenage years stolen from them: DO NOT DO IT!!