I realized that statement between Saturday and Tuesday. Saturday, I had my manager (who had done nothing but praise me up to that point), berate me publicly for changing my availability to fit my school schedule. He was overly loud, cursed too much, and treated me like my life was my crappy job. Instead of just taking it, I went and found a new job! It took me 3 days to do between the time I walked in and asked for an interview and the time I started the official hiring process.

I gave my manager a chance to apologize, privately told him that he was being ridiculous with how he treated me. He attempted to half-apologize and then blame me. When that didn't work, he made feeble excuses ("I was a meat manager," "I am a lot nicer now than I was," etc.). Since he wasn't willing to accept that he had stepped on someone's toes more than he should have, I now have no qualms about leaving this AWFUL job.

Instead of dressing up in ugly polyester polos and khakis, I'll get to wear flattering colors. Instead of working with massive numbers of customers in a grocery store deli, I'll be working in a non-food setting (a first since I was 14)!

Most importantly, I will get to have respect for myself, and I will live my life in a way that doesn't put a terrible minimum wage job above everything else going on in my life! I refuse to work for people who forget that I am not a robot or a trick monkey. I may get paid minimum wage, but I am a human and will not accept being treated as anything less!