There's always room for family

As I jump from restaurant to restaurant as a cook, I meet people who challenge you and humble you. Yosanda and Brad are some of these people.

It’s well known (and if not, now you know) that people in the restaurant industry don’t get great compensation. Most of the people who I work with have families in other states, and even countries, who they are trying to support. They send money back for their families while they live alone trying to make ends meet.

Yosanda is from El Salvadore where she leaves behind two children; a son and a daughter. She works five days a week prepping potatoes and peeling vegetables for the night cooks to use for service. On the other side is Brad. Brad had a career change and after lots of education, is breaking into the cooking scene. But in addition to student loans and basic living expenses, Brad finds himself sending money back home for his mother who needs hospital care.

Co-workers seem like they are constantly changing in my life. But there will always be co-workers that you make a connection with and make you grow. The more I became close with these co-workers, the more I realized that no matter how little you make, you’re priorities always stay the same; there’s always room for family.




* Some of the names in this post have been changed.