Senior Project Week 1

 

  • The person/organization you are working with (if applicable), the classes you chose to continue, or the Capstone Project you are working on
  • Why did you choose this particular project?
  • Introductions - what was your inspiration, who are the people you’re working with, etc.
  • How did you pull together this particular project?
  • 3 goals for your senior project (set these with your mentor)
  • 1-2 images/photos

 

I am working at QFC as a courtesy clerk (grocery bagger, stocking products, and helping customers). I chose to continue my work at QFC to evade future debt. I would have loved to get a job that would teach me new things, and I did apply for a job at a local bubble tea, but unfortunately after an interview I did not get an email back. I have been working at QFC since August and have made great friends, and learned many things, but mostly I am doing this because I need the money. 

    At QFC I work with many people around my age but mostly managers. Every shift I ask managers questions after every task to make sure that I am doing what they need me to do. Through these questions and hard work I have become trusted and often one of the courtesy leaders in the store. 

    Over the summer my dad let me know that he was disappointed I hadn't motivated myself to do something productive over the summer. Soon after, I drove to many places to find applications and applied online like crazy. QFC emailed back a week later and I showed up for an interview shortly after. The interview went well and I started shortly after. It wasn't hard to pull this project together but I fear that I won't have much to write about as I have experienced most of what will be experienced as a courtesy clerk.

    Some goals I have for the project have expanded. Originally my goals were simply to make money and reduce future college debt. Now I intend to use my extra free time due to a lack of homework and hours in productive ways. Everyday I intend to work out for around 30 minutes, I started a painting for my family that I will work on every day, and finally I will study mandarin for 30 minutes a day and while playing video games with William and Bram speak mandarin.

 one of the first days working

Shoveled snow for an hour in a t shirt tirelessly 


Comments

  1. MaureenMay 24, 2021 at 1:21 PM

    Hi, Miles. I worked at a grocery store after graduating from high school. It was not my first job, but it was the first time I joined a union as part of my job. I had the privilege of knowing that I would only hold that job til I went off to school (where I found other jobs), but many of the people I worked alongside had/would work there for years. If I were to do it again, I would probably take more time to get to know the people I was working with and learn more about their lives. I wonder if there is a creative project you could undertake that goes along with the job as a way of learning more while doing it . . . creating portraits of your coworkers, perhaps? That might make this feel like a new learning experience even though you are doing the same job.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 28, 2021 at 4:51 PM

      I love that idea Maureen! I have actually made very good friends with a few coworkers and went to the beach with them last weekend. As for the drawings I would love to do that but there are a lot of people I have built connections with and I wouldn't want to leave anyone out. Maybe I can start on some drawings and if I get to all of them it could work. I also won't have a lot of time next week so we will see. There are a lot of people my age who work there who are easy to connect with but I have had some lovely conversations with the older workers at the store as well. I am sure they would all appreciate a portrait.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousMay 24, 2021 at 9:42 PM

    Miles, I admire the stamina you have shown in your work --it's not easy to keep up a positive attitude while doing repetitive tasks. I can see that you are good at connecting with people --how has that been for you, with costumers and coworkers?

    I can picture the mandarin video game playing. Does everything translate well?

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 28, 2021 at 4:53 PM

      As I replied to Maureen I have made some great friends at work. The monotony of the job can get tiresome but I am always looking for ways to work as efficiently and effectively as possible which makes it fun. As for the mandarin it is pretty much a bunch of agitated shouting but I do ask questions as both Bram and William are very familiar with the language:)

      Delete
  3. AnonymousMay 25, 2021 at 10:15 AM

    I am curious to learn about your coworkers. How long have they been working there? How do they feel about the job? What are their goals in working there? Also, even though you have been working there for a while, I want to know more about what exactly you do. What is the secret to bagging groceries well? What does it mean to stock groceries? Does this mean putting things out on the shelves for customers? How do you decide how much to put out?

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 28, 2021 at 4:58 PM

      Most of my coworkers are younger but some are older and either figuring out what they want to do and building up to it, while some are much older and want the shopper discount and a fairly relaxed job. The secret to bagging groceries is to create a wall with larger objects on either side of the bag and then place things in the middle. I stock frozen which means taking loads from the back room and distributing among shelves in the frozen aisles. I also will scan back stock to make sure we don't order too much which I recently was taught how to do. I put out what can fit on the shelves.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 30, 2021 at 9:18 AM

      Thanks for all the information! Do you get to wear a jacket when you walk into the giant freezer?? I used to work in a frozen yogurt shop, so we had a big walk-in refrigerator and stocking that was COLD. I can't imagine a walk-in freezer.

      Delete

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