Jorge Cristobal:
Cart: Taco City
What were you like in high school?
I was a good student, I really liked sports too. I enjoyed everything school related.
What are the benefits/ downsides of working near a high school?
Working kids is nice, they are good help to the cart. They are also 50% of our customer base, they keep business steady. Some downsides… The kids can be really noisy and crazy to a point. Sometimes there are fights and bad behavior, but you can’t regulate it because we don’t work for the school. I understand the students don’t always have money, so I give them the food for free and ask them to pay me back the next day.
How do you deal with the lunch rush?
I get help from students, prepare some burritos beforehand, prep ahead the most popular foods.
For better or worse, what is the most memorable high schooler experience that you have had?
It was right after finals I remember, and some kids just came up and ran off with the tip jar. It was crazy.
Zaus Myo Thein:
Cart: Idea Sushi
What are the benefits and downsides of working near a high school?
A good thing is the community. We like the kids and they are nice, but sometimes they aren’t maybe because of family problems, but we understand.
How do high schoolers compare to adult customers?
They are different. They are kids. Sometimes they don’t have money, so I tell them to pay me later. They are regular customers, so I am understanding.
For better or worse, what is the most memorable high schooler interaction that you have had?
Final day of school, we need to be careful because they break and damage our things. After that they are fine.
If you have one, what message do you want to get out to high schoolers?
Nothing special, they are good kids, but they need to have more focus in class and on their studies. This is the time of change. They have to be good now if they aren’t their lives will not be. Even though this is no fun.
Salin:
Cart: Phat Cart
How do you deal with the lunch rush? What things do you do to prepare?
I pre make a few popular items of the menu, like the Crispy Chicken.
For better or worse, what is the most memorable high schooler experience that you have had?
The gas line broke last year.
What are the benefits and downsides of working near a high school?
We have more time for rest, before and after lunch.
If you have one, what message do you want to get out to high schoolers?
Stay clean.
Carla Pirbun:
Cart: Thai Bloom
What were you like in high school?
Peace maker. I graduated from Reynolds, so we would have a lot of fights. I used to be around different cliques all the time trying to prevent fights.
For better or worse what is the most memorable high schooler interaction that you have had?
I don’t remember their names, but I’m always going to remember this. There was a couple of kids here that go to this school, and they were talking with each other, and saying that they took sign language. The best feeling they have ever had was when they were working their part time job, and somebody that was deaf asked to borrow a pen. Instead they started talking to them in sign language, and they felt so good about it. Every time I think about it, or everytime I see something that is going wrong, I remember there are still a couple of good ones.
How do high schoolers compare to adult customers?
They do a lot of similar things. Not that big of a difference. The only thing I have noticed is that adults are a little bit more picky than students. As long as students get their food they’ll be fine. Adults are like don’t put this in there, don’t put that, can you do it without this? Students, even though sometimes a little short, when I ask them to pay me the next day they do.
If you have one, what message do you want to get out to high schoolers?
Please just respect the park. The park is here and open for everybody, but it is still private property. We would like them to keep coming here, but if they don’t respect it, we’re gonna have to start closing it or start telling students not to come. Show us the same respect we show you.
By: Maddy Cronn
