By Sanjana Thimmidi

Who knew you could be a manager at only 16? Well, our very own senior, Auston-Claire Merrill, did just that! At the age of 15, in 2016, Auston-Claire began working at Chick-filA.

She had started working there to make some money, but she gained so much more than that. Auston-Claire explains that, along with earning money, this experience is the “reason I am who I am.” She has learned what it really means to be a leader and how to communicate better. Because of this endeavor, she now understands that it is important to voice to others your emotions, rather than let them build up inside. She has also gained responsibility.
As anyone at TPA knows, there is a huge amount of work and effort put into class, homework, clubs, and sports. And you might assume that all of this work plus having a job would be unbearable, but Auston-Claire says it is the exact opposite. Having a job helped her “manage her time” and to become more “aware” or her responsibilities.

This job actually helps her to do better in school. She discovered some of her good friends through Chickfil-A, and she has built connections with them. She continues to be a manager at Chick-fil-A and genuinely enjoys working there. To anyone thinking of applying for a job, she suggests that you should “do a job you enjoy,” and “don’t be pressured into a job for money.”