Version 2
(good framing and lighting but the image seems a bit blurry. check the original and re-upload)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For some people, low income jobs end after college. But for some, they remain for years after graduation. This is the case for Logan Morales.
In 2014, Logan Morales began her career as a server at Grub’s Uptown in Fayetteville. She was a sophomore at the University of Arkansas studying criminal justice. When Morales moved to college with her high-school sweetheart Alan, her parents said they would cut her off if she moved in with him. In the fall of her sophomore year, she did just that.
Morales tried to have a college experience regardless. She was a member of Phi Mu sorority, lived in an apartment, and was getting an education all at the same time. In order to pay her sorority dues rent, and tuition, Morales started to pick up every shift she could to make her payments. She succeeded, and finished college paying for nearly everything on her own.
Morales graduated from college in 2016, and failed to find a job right away. She currently remains employed at Grub’s, as a server and bartender making probably minimum wage, but in a very inconsistent way.
“There is a lot of unexpectedness” when it comes to serving Morales says. Some days you leave with $300, which in some cases is the amount of your car payment, and some days you leave with $19 which barely covers lunch.
In October 2017, the Morales’ got married. Something they paid for entirely themselves, with minimal help from her parents.
Between paying her sorority dues and paying for the big day, Morales learned very important lessons in budgeting.
(audio quality is solid. Please add an introduction and edit this so it isn’t as repetitive.)
Beyond budgeting, Morales learned certain lessons in being server that make it easier to make ends meet.
“You can work however much or little you want,” she said.
Finding “regulars”, or as she calls them “regs” is important too. Morales talks about the importance of finding people who come in often, tip well, and get to know you so they tip better. Throughout most of the fall, she has a group of Ducks Unlimited members come in every Tuesday night. They ask to sit with her, and leave her close to $100 each time they come in.
Most serving jobs release a work schedule, and then allow the servers to give up or pick up shifts. The more you work, the more money you make.
But beyond the financial hardships of serving, she talked about the physical ones. Being a server, she says, means working double shifts to make more money. For most doubles, this usually means open to close, which at Grub’s is 10 p.m. – 11 p.m. That is thirteen hours on your feet, running around, and actively engaging with customers.
Being a bartender adds an entirely new set of challenges. Often, happy hour for some customer lasts longer than an hour, and ends in an Uber home because they got their keys taken away. There is also a need to know the regulations of Alcoholic Beverage Control to avoid getting a ticket or fine by the agency.
For Morales, serving paid off some of the most important times in her life. Her tips paid for her sorority dues, her first home with her boyfriend, and eventually her wedding. Living on a servers’ wage is possible, it often takes more than just your scheduled shifts to do so.
________________________________________________________________________
Version 1
(good framing and lighting but the image seems a bit blurry. check the original and re-upload)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For some people, low income jobs end after college. But for some, they remain for years after graduation. This is the case for Logan Morales.
In 2014, Logan Morales began her career as a server at Grub’s Uptown in Fayetteville. She was a sophomore at the University of Arkansas studying criminal justice. When Morales moved to college with her high-school sweetheart Alan, her parents said they would cut her off if she moved in with him. In the fall of her sophomore year, she did just that.
Morales tried to have a college experience regardless. She was a member of Phi Mu sorority, lived in an apartment, and was getting an education all at the same time. In order to pay her sorority dues rent, and tuition, Morales started to pick up every shift she could to make her payments. She succeeded, and finished college paying for nearly everything on her own.
Morales graduated from college in 2016, and failed to find a job right away. She currently remains employed at Grub’s, as a server and bartender making probably minimum wage, but in a very inconsistent way.
“There is a lot of unexpectedness” when it comes to serving Morales says. Some days you leave with $300, which in some cases is the amount of your car payment, and some days you leave with $19 which barely covers lunch.
In October 2017, the Morales’ got married. Something they paid for entirely themselves, with minimal help from her parents.
Between paying her sorority dues and paying for the big day, Morales learned very important lessons in budgeting.
(audio quality is solid. Please add an introduction and edit this so it isn’t as repetitive.)
Beyond budgeting, Morales learned certain lessons in being server that make it easier to make ends meet.
“You can work however much or little you want,” she said.
Finding “regulars”, or as she calls them “regs” is important too. Morales talks about the importance of finding people who come in often, tip well, and get to know you so they tip better. Throughout most of the fall, she has a group of Ducks Unlimited members come in every Tuesday night. They ask to sit with her, and leave her close to $100 each time they come in.
Most serving jobs release a work schedule, and then allow the servers to give up or pick up shifts. The more you work, the more money you make.
But beyond the financial hardships of serving, she talked about the physical ones. Being a server, she says, means working double shifts to make more money. For most doubles, this usually means open to close, which at Grub’s is 10 p.m. – 11 p.m. That is thirteen hours on your feet, running around, and actively engaging with customers.
Being a bartender adds an entirely new set of challenges. Often, happy hour for some customer lasts longer than an hour, and ends in an Uber home because they got their keys taken away. There is also a need to know the regulations of Alcoholic Beverage Control to avoid getting a ticket or fine by the agency.
For Morales, serving paid off some of the most important times in her life. Her tips paid for her sorority dues, her first home with her boyfriend, and eventually her wedding. Living on a servers’ wage is possible, it often takes more than just your scheduled shifts to do so.
Recent Comments