Chichos

Diagnostic Essay:

Imagine a place where you're able to hang out with your closest friends, listen to your favorite songs, and drink free drinks until you can't drink anymore. Sounds great, right? Now imagine being paid good money to hang out in a place like this. Waitressing at Chichos was by far the most fun I've ever had at a job.

At around three every afternoon my day would start. I would wake up, eat a quick meal, shower, and then begin texting my entire phonebook informing my friends of what deals were being offered at Chichos for the night. Later, around five i would arrive at work. As I opened up the dining room my phone would always be ringing off the hook with responses as to who would be able to make it out that night. I would then sit at the bar, ask the bartender to fix me a long island iced tea, and wait patiently for my friends to arrive. Of course as I waited I would tend to the regulars who, like clockwork, always arrived the second we opened. I didn't mind, seeing as I gradually got to know these people and could always carry on a good conversation with them.

A few drinks later, around eight o clock, my friends would start to arrive. They would always order the same thing: a three dollar pitcher of bud light. The bartender would always prepare a drink for me along with their beer. My friends and I would just sit around talking and laughing until nine rolled around and we could set up the beer pong tables. I would always make sure to sign them up for the first game. On slower nights I would sign myself up as well. The sounds of laughter, music blaring through the overhead speakers, and the dunking noise of the pong balls landing in the cups of water always made me feel right at home.

As the night carried on, I would become more and more intoxicated. It always seemed as if the less sober I was, the more customers would tip me. Most likely because of how much more social I became. It seemed as if my pockets would fill as quickly as my bladder. Towards the end of the night, I would take my time doing my sidework because the baretender would continue to concoct all different kinds of drinks for me. I actually didn't even want to go home. Still, my friends would help me out with my cleaning duties so we could head to my best friends, who happened to work with me as well, apartment which was a couple blocks down the street.

I've never been able to find another job that I enjoy as much as I did Chichos. The atmosphere just seems unmatchable. I guess it's probably better I don't work there anymore however. That just doesn't seem like the kind of environment I should be in when I have school to focus on. Yet, it truly was a one of a kind job.






Diagnostic Essay Revised:

Good friends, good music, and good booze always seem to be three main characteristics of my ideal atmosphere. Now, another favorite of mine happens to be money, and with my job at Chicho’s all of these things were combined. I was being paid good money to hang out with my friends and drink free drinks all night long, all the while listening to my favorite playlists on my iPod over the loud speakers.

Everyday I would sleep in until 3:00 pm. I would wake up, shower, and text everyone in my phonebook letting them know what deals or what drinking games Chicho’s was having that night. I would get to work around five and begin opening the restaurant up while my phone rang off the hook with responses from friends who were eager to come out that night. After opening, I would sit at the bar and sip on a long island iced tea until the first customers arrived. It was never a long wait, however, because the regulars seemed to arrive as soon as we opened everyday, like clockwork. I didn't mind, seeing as I gradually got to know these people and could always carry on a good conversation with them.

A few drinks later, around 8:00, my friends would start to arrive. They would always order the same thing: a three dollar pitcher of bud light. Along with this the bartender would always prepare a drink for me as well. My friends and I would just sit around talking and laughing until nine rolled around and we could set up the beer pong tables. I would always make sure to sign them up for the first game. On slower nights I would sign myself up as well. The sounds of laughter, music blaring through the overhead speakers, and the dunking noise of the pong balls landing in the cups of water always made me feel right at home.

As the night carried on, I would become more and more intoxicated. It always seemed as if the less sober I was the more customers would tip me. Most likely because of how much more social I became. It seemed as if my pockets would fill as quickly as my bladder. Towards the end of the night, I would take my time doing my side work because the bartender would continue to concoct a variety of different kinds of drinks for me. I actually didn't even want to go home. Still, my friends would help me out with my cleaning duties so we could head to my best friends apartment, who happened to work with me as well, which was a couple blocks down the street.

I've never been able to find another job that I enjoy as much as I did Chichos. The atmosphere just seems unmatchable. I guess it's probably better I don't work there anymore however. That just doesn't seem like the kind of environment I should be in when I have school to focus on. Yet, it truly was a one of a kind job.

Reflecting

Reflection on the past has always been such an amusing thing to me. It baffles me the random events that always seem to take place. Things always happen to be either annoyingly predictably or just completely out of the ordinary. It’s always one extreme or the other, never any gray in the middle. Over the past few months quite a few things have changed in my life. Whether it was this English course or maybe just the warm weather, something seems to have pressed the refresh button on my brain.
Ever since my senior year in high school it has seemed literally impossible for me to wake up before 1:00 pm everyday. If I had school I would normally have to stay awake all night just to make sure I got to class, or else I knew I would sleep through it. Not being able to wake up was ultimately the main reason I failed my senior year and had to retake the class in summer school; twice. I feel as if I am a smart person; I just also happen to be very lazy and apathetic. It seemed so surreal, like it wasn’t actually me who had failed. I thought, “No, I’m too smart for this.” Maybe it was the fear of being perceived as an idiot that motivated me, but I have gained a heightened sense of responsibility. One day, out of nowhere, I woke up at 8:30 am feeling as if I had overslept. I was confused and shocked, but even more so when I started doing it every morning. With this I started thinking, “Well, this is the first step to getting my act together.” No matter how small a step it makes a huge difference. I’ve started feeling more energized and focused, and I’ve started to put more effort into my school work; I’ve always enjoyed writing anyway.
This course has helped me a great deal with my writing. I feel like I am much more able to organize my thoughts and convey them in a manner that is far easier for my readers to follow. I used to always have horrible writers block. Any literature would always take me forever to write, because the majority of the time I was staring at a blank word document wondering what the hell I should write. After learning about the three rhetorical appeals, I feel like it’s much easier to think of things to write, because I think of what I want my audience to be feeling at the moment and try to incorporate this with each message I want to send.
I definitely think the experiences I have had in this class were a huge influence on my responsibility. Being my first college course, it showed me how different things are than high school. Realizing that teachers aren’t going to baby me anymore pushed me to be more independent. I like how I had to keep track of due dates on my own. It helped me to stay on track, because I would check blackboard regularly causing me to think about school far more often than I would have otherwise. Being in a classroom full of intelligent students also motivated me, because I have always had a fear of looking dumb in other people’s eyes. I normally don’t care much what people think of me; however, unintelligent is one word I’d rather people didn’t use to describe me. It’s such a different environment; in high school students are far more unconcerned, while college students have paid for their courses so they care much more.
I have gone through drastic changes over the course of this semester. While this course and the fear of being the village idiot were major reasons, there were a number of different influences that have changed me. Being able to wake up early is probably the best thing that has happened to me in awhile. I feel like a much more responsible person, and feel as if I am getting a lot more accomplished.