JD Margarita Rodriguez Ayon works as a team member for Taco Bell. “In other words, a cashier,” she said. The title of team member, though, goes far beyond just running the cash register. In that role, she is also required to take out the trash for both lobby and kitchen, clean the drive-thru area and restock supplies there, sweep the areas, wipe down tables and flat surfaces, clean and sanitize the bathroom, and help do inventory and sorting box of supplies in their area, if working the morning or closing shift.

It starts from the moment she clocks in. She washes her hands and puts on latex gloves. “If the gloves are damaged or touch too many things while cleaning during your shift, you must throw them out and put on a new pair. The best time to change your gloves is to this point:

1. Taking out the trash
2. Using the bathroom
3. Cleaning the lobby or kitchen
4. When gloves have holes or damaged
5. Touching returned food items (messed up order) from customers
6. If your positions switches to cashier to helping the line (Food champions)

That’s a lot of responsibility for a first-time employee, and it took her about three months to get the hang of it, but she’s been at the job for almost a year and needs to balance it with grades to keep her employment.

She does all this while wearing her required uniform: Black non-slip shoes, Taco Bell apron and hat, black or dark blue jeans that are clean and not ripped and a Taco Bell shirt. “I find it weird that the uniform isn’t purple like the Taco Bell colors, but black is mainly the uniform attire.

“Our main boss Thu, or I just call her Tookie, mainly takes care of the hiring and employment part, so for interviews you’re going to be talking to her,” said Rodriguez. “My boss is understanding, but very strict. She tends to correct you during work, but I don’t work with her as much.”

“I like the people who I work with since they make the night shift easy. Whenever there can be a problem, or if I still have questions, it’s just very comforting.

“If you want to work and be able to earn money, it’s better to be doing so in a safe work environment, where you to feel comfortable, since you are a valuable employee of where you are working,” she said. “Make sure that work doesn’t take up too much of your time or social life, live your life and keep on track with your grades. Don’t end up like me having to deal with Edgenuity because I ignored school and failed some classes.”

Rodriguez has financial goals with this job. “I would want to save up to over $10k before I graduate and after I graduate I would want to pursue work in art,” she said. She’s saving the money for a number of reasons but she hasn’t decided where to spend it yet. College is an option, or perhaps a car or some investments. Her paychecks can be close to $1,000 every two weeks, although they are less during the school year. “Before school I worked five days a week from 4 to midnight, but since I’m in school, I work the weekends from 4 to midnight.” On Fridays she starts her shift at 5 pm.

That schedule still keeps her pretty busy, but she finds time to paint on canvas and draw to relax. “I have a creative mindset and would just turn it into work to make a portfolio in a way,” she said.