My Training Era by Isabella

My Training Era by Isabella - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

When I first started working at Starbucks, I realized that being taught how to do a job and actually doing it are two very different things. My training was... well- not great, and before I knew it, I was expected to work with coworkers who had much more experience than I did. I barely knew the basics, but there were many small things I just didn't know yet.

Because of that, I made mistakes. Sometimes I wouldn't add the proper amount of syrup or espresso in drinks, forget something during closing, or simply do something that could've been done much more efficiently. My coworkers would point these things out whenever they had the chance. At first, it was frustrating, since they were pretty blunt about their comments without considering how new I was. I wanted to be good at my job, and being constantly reminded that there was something else I didn't know made me feel like I was always stuck behind. But those feelings lasted for a week.

After that first week frustration, I put on my big girl boots and changed the way I looked at their feedback. Instead of treating correction as a reminder that I was doing a poor job., I started treating it as more training. I took photos of all the recipes and memorized the tricks and patterns there were to making the drinks. I took notes of everything my coworkers said about each type of shift so I wouldn't miss anything no matter when I got scheduled. I also got more comfortable with them and started asking them questions, no matter how silly they sounded, so I wouldn't be stuck pretending I had a clue what I was doing.
So now, a few months in, I'm grateful for every small correction. Doing my job feels almost automatic, and I'm much more comfortable working alone and efficiently. More than anything, the experience changed how I approach learning stuff in general.

I thought being good at something meant figuring it out quickly and making no mistakes. Working taught me that improvement is the opposite. Making mistakes is just part of learning. You hear the correction then try again before the bad habit sticks.

So now, with whatever I do, I don't automatically take feedback as criticism. I take it as an opportunity to learn something new and prove to myself that I can adjust. I've realized that being good at something doesn't mean never needing feedback. It means being willing to listen and do better next time.