Be kind to the teenager behind the counter.
The one checking out your groceries, handing you your coffee, bagging your food, or cleaning a table.
She might be sixteen, maybe seventeen. It could be his very first job, or maybe just her second week. They’re learning how to show up on time, speak with people, take responsibility, and handle tough moments with a smile.
They’re standing on their feet for hours, trying to manage customers, coworkers, and all the pressure that comes with being “on the job.”
They’re learning how to work hard, how to listen, how to deal with the world as it is—while still figuring out who they are.
So please, be kind to the teen behind the counter.
You don’t know whose child that is.
You don’t know how proud someone feels of them.
You don’t know what kind of courage it took just for them to show up today.
And the truth is, they’re doing far better than we often give them credit for.
Credit- Leslie Means✍️