Assignment 21: Katie Chen

When I first started working at Cold Stone, I was immediately overwhelmed. With numerous tasks and skills needed for the job, I instantly felt under-qualified. However, it being my first ever job, I felt the need to be perfect. For the first few weeks, I did everything as perfectly as I could. I made sure all my ice cream sizes were consistent, I always jumped at the opportunity to clean something, and I did everything exactly by the employee handbook. Not to brag, but I was pretty close to perfection.
Well, except for milkshakes.
I could never make a milkshake that came out right. They either came up too short, too thick, or too runny. Everything that could've gone wrong with a milkshake went wrong for me. Once, after remaking a chocolate milkshake four times, I handed it to the customer and they-after watching me fail so many times- reluctantly took it, a grimace on their face. I continued to struggle with making milkshakes. I didn't know where I went wrong. Every single time, I followed the exact recipe posted on the wall: 3 ounces of milk, 5 scoops of ice cream, blender mode 1. After a month of not being able to successfully make a milkshake, I considered quitting my job.
While it might seem dramatic to quit a job over something as meaningless as a milkshake, but I was obsessed with being a perfectionist at Cold Stone. Gradually, as months passed, I learned that by adding slightly more milk led to the milkshakes being the perfect amount. However cliche, practice does make perfect.