lindsaymuse

First jobs can be difficult for some people to find, but not for Marian girls. With the incentive to earn a little bit of pocket cash and job experience, girls turn towards their local grocery stores.

“I was drawn to Hy-Vee because the pay was good, it looked easy, and I was able to interact with people,” junior Meredith Zielie said.

Many other Marian girls are drawn to local grocery stores for the same reasons. They are able to gain first job experiences and share common bonds with both coworkers and customers.

Junior Brianna Wessling applied for a job at Baker’s for these reasons as well as an additional one. “I wanted a job, but not many places were hiring girls at 15 years old,” Wessling said.

For Marian girls, the most common first positions at local groceries are as checkers and customer service workers. As a checker, senior Payton Ranck has learned a variety of skills in dealing with cus- tomers. “I have learned how to put a smile on my face when customers come through my line and how to handle situations when a customer becomes rude or demanding,” Ranck said.

Marian girls have gained valuable first job experiences that include learning how to be more helpful, understanding people of different backgrounds, balancing work and play, and recognizing that there is a solution to every problem.

These experiences have reaffirmed the core values that Marian has introduced to them. Senior Sophia Marasco feels that Hy-Vee’s motto truly represents service to its employees and customers. “Hy-Vee is all about serving their customers, as you can hear in their slogan ‘Where there’s a helpful smile in every aisle.’ This shows that we are willing and ready to serve our customers,” she said. These girls bring the core values of community, compassion, and service to their workplaces, spreading the mission of Marian to grocery stores all over Omaha.