Owner The Donut Station, Inc Torrington, CT, United States
Description: When I was a little girl in New York City, Saturdays were the day my father and I walked to the neighborhood bakery to buy bread and a dessert for dinner. The excitement of seeing what was in their bakery case and getting to pick out a treat was an experience I never forgot. Now, I am on the other side of the counter and get to see the same excitement in my customers' faces. The Donut Station has given me the opportunity to make people happy on a day-to-day basis. What other profession has the ability to influence the beginning and the end of someone's day? Despite this, my employees and I have been looked down upon because we do not have a 'real job.' I am not sure how or when this happened in our society, but working in the baking/food/customer service industry is viewed by some as less than. How many bakeries were never opened because the owner was talked out of it? How many didn't pursue their passion for cooking? What determines a 'real Job'? Money? Place of employment? The dress code? What is the purpose of a job? Who decides?
Classroom Engagement: Ask people what they think of when they hear the words "real job". Ask people to define the purpose of a job. I will have key words written out that reflect my answers. I will write down their answers and place them under certain professions listed. This is all to prove the point that our industry exhibits the same, if not more, valuable effects of being. Ask people if they have an experience similar to mine. What I do on a day to day basis is extremely important and I want to share my passion with others. Ask people why they think this has happened. Ask what can we do to change this perception.
