What I wish was different
As strenuous as it was, and is, it has set clear standards for me that allow me to work harder on my degree so that I don't have to work future labor jobs like this to maintain a comfortable lifestyle regarding food and a place to live. It's a great opportunity for a part-time worker who needs money outside of school, but overall I wish it hadn't been so physical. Despite hearts pounding and gasping for air, if we were found without a cart in our hand by management, they would say we need to get back to it. There were only 4 total cart pushers at the time and to maintain the parking lot is at least a 3-4 person job. Especially on busy days. But usually only 1-2 people were working at a time. Sometimes 3. It was difficult to keep up with the carts and we were allowed no room to breathe when it came to this. We were expected, and we tried, to keep up with carts all day long. Whether it was 90° F or 70° F and pouring, we had to be out there. We were aware of this because we had signed up for it, but when it came to management, we were treated like physical machines rather than human laborers. People were inconsiderate of us. So, simply I wish we had the actual amount of other cart associates to calmly keep up with business all day long. Without others, it was a constant and exhausting struggle.