Panda Express

Junior Mila Snowert

My first shift started at two o’clock. I twiddled my thumbs in the backseat of my Tita’s 2008 Saturn Aura. Despite my protests, I wasn’t allowed to sit in the passenger seat even though I was almost eight. The radio blasted, buffering my nerves as we bumped into the parking lot. Walking through the glass doors, I took note of how Tita’s Panda Express hat bulged awkwardly over the hump of my high ponytail, but I couldn’t help but smile.

Tita had been working at Panda for a few months, and on her off days, I would drag her back for a kids’ meal string bean chicken with fried rice. When I found out that Tita was allowed free meals when she worked, I knew what I had to do. The sounds were the same: a steady swish of frying foods, muffled conversations, and a friendly “Welcome to Panda” synced by all the employees. As a professionally trained soy sauce reorganizer, I swiftly began my first task. Stacking one by one, labels facing up, pushed neatly into the back of the container. As I settled into a rhythm, I surveyed the establishment. In the corner, an old couple sharing lunch, smiling over orange chicken. To compliment them, a few stray peas and a plastic fork littered the floor.

With the last soy sauce packet placed carefully in the front, I searched for my next task. A tall broom and dustpan tucked neatly behind the kitchen called my name.

I swayed with the broom, working from corner to corner. I swept up every pea in sight. Then a shifting in the corner signaled the orange chicken couple was about to leave. I scurried to their table, offering to take their plates for them. After a hesitant blink, the woman kindly smiled.

“That would be lovely sweetheart, thank you!”

As they walked out the doors, I decided to try a farewell.

“Bye!” My seven-year-old voice pierced through the room. The strangers waved, and I returned the broom and dustpan back behind the counter.

After my long day of work (around 10 minutes), I was ready to eat. I faced my fellow employee from the customer side of the food display case. The golden glow of fried rice was mesmerizing as they stacked it high on a styrofoam plate. Despite all my soccer participation trophies up to that point, this was the best reward I’d ever received. Tita and I munched on our food, and I gave her hat back.

I had a total of three shifts at Panda Express, but I circle back to them often. Not only is fried rice still my favorite food, but now I get to sit in the driver’s seat of Tita’s old 2008 Saturn Aura. Moreover, my past profession as a soy sauce reorganizer works great in Student Council. I get to bring new ideas to the table that transform my school environment. When I’m stuck on a math or physics equation, I take a step back to survey. Although it may not be stray peas standing in my way anymore, getting to know all I have to work with helps me find a solution. Engaging in conversations, with a now sixteenyear-old voice, opens my eyes to different perspectives, cultures, and information.

From a young age, I’ve been captivated by the power of opportunity; trying new things has helped me discover myself in different sports, clubs, and