You know, despite how often people tell me that I am a good writer, I have no idea how to start blog posts! Haha, but I'll give it a shot.
I finished my last shift at McDonald's last Saturday. 7am-3pm. And to think that two years and ten months ago, it began with a Calvin & Hobbes crew neck.
When I began driving, my Dad counseled me that it was time that I began to seek employment. I searched earnestly, and I'll admit I really wanted nothing to do with the food service industry. But options for a sixteen year old girl with no diploma or real skills were slim. I finally decided to apply for work at the nearby McDonald's, which was undergoing renovations at the time.
I turned up for my first interview in a Calvin & Hobbes crew neck (I came straight from school. I know, I'm a dork). The assistant manager conducted the first interview and told me to come back for a final interview with the manager. I returned, and got the job! I didn't realize just how much this job would influence me.
I attended the local community college for my junior and senior year of high school, still working at McDonald's. Work became a social "plan B" for me in my senior year, when all but two of my friends left for college (the August birthday caused a weird age gap between my close friends and I). My life was a routine: Seminary, school, music practice, study, work, sleep, repeat. So I would look forward to work as a chance to socialize with people outside of my family. I came to really appreciate my coworkers, and look forward to seeing them. But McDonald's was not only a place where I went to earn money and occasionally refill my social canteen; it is where my journey to my mission began.
The first Saturday of October in 2012, two missionaries came in to eat. After they went to sit down and eat their meal, I was instructed to do a quick run in the lobby (wipe tables, do a quick sweep, etc.) I had previously greeted the two Elders, and so as I wiped the table next to them the senior companion turned to talk to me.
"Did you see the morning session of General Conference?"
I hadn't. I was at work. He went on to inform me about a huge announcement that had been broadcasted in the Saturday morning session:
Eligible young men could now serve at the age of 18, and eligible young women could serve at the age of 19.
This. Was. HUGE.
Previously, young men had to wait until the age of 19 and young women until 21 to serve a full-time mission. It was all that I could think about as I got off of work and went to get ready for Homecoming! I had contemplated serving a mission, and now I could do so two years sooner!
The thought of serving a mission had crossed my mind before, but now I was determined. I was going to serve a mission.
The more I prepared to serve, the more I knew that this was the right path for me. I took on more hours at work, in order to support myself over the upcoming 18 months (missionaries are not paid for their work. All of their efforts are a voluntary service). Finally, my mission call came. And then I received my endowment in the temple.
And now here I am, spending these short few weeks preparing to preach the gospel in Spanish and serve the people of Florida. It's a pretty big gap from the high school sophomore looking for her first job.
I was pretty sad about having to leave McDonald's. Change can be tough, even if you're moving on and heading for something greater. And I have no doubt that I will carry the lessons that I learned and memories that I made at McDonald's with me into my mission and throughout the rest of my days.
I am ecstatic to serve as a full-time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Yours truly,
soon-to-be Hermana Curnow.
Aidan snapped a quick pic before I left my last shift.
Mel and I (she was 'Mr. Frodo' and I was Sam).
A post-work twin picture with Katie (people were constantly confusing us with each other).
I turned in my two weeks notice during the 'Monopoly season'. These are the only four Monopoly pieces that I care about, and now I get to use them! ;)
Barb and I, all dressed up for the employee Halloween party!
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