Be Kind to the Teenager Behind the Counter
Take a moment next time you’re at the checkout, the coffee counter, or even walking into a cozy café—there’s a face there worth pausing for. Behind the counter stands a teenager, maybe sixteen or seventeen, who might be navigating the insecurities of their first—or perhaps second—job. It’s in these early shifts that they’re learning fundamentals that will shape their character: punctuality, responsibility, decency, and grace under pressure.
A First Step Into Responsibility
For many, this is more than a paycheck—it’s a foundational experience. They’re learning what it means to stand on their own two feet, literally and figuratively, for hours on end. Balancing stacks of groceries, greeting customers, or mastering the art of the perfect cup of coffee—all while trying to make it through a day that for them might feel longer than it looks.
Quiet Courage in Uniform
They’re not just serving goods—they’re learning to show up as someone who can be counted on. Maybe this is their very first responsibility that others notice. Maybe it’s the source of quiet pride among family members who beam at the thought of “my teenager” standing there in uniform, holding together tasks and presenting a smile when they didn’t know they had one.
Battling Invisible Battles
Behind that bright greeting may lie a swirl of emotions: nerves, self-doubt, excitement, exhaustion. They’re still figuring out who they are in the world, while learning to face the world as it is—complete with demanding customers, the pressure to be efficient, and inexperience in smoothing over hiccups with coworkers or customers.
That Simple Act of Kindness
And yet, in the vortex of orders, prices, and perfect pours, something small you do can matter more than you know. A smile, a kind word, or a moment of patient understanding—they don’t just help them get through a shift. They validate the courage it took just to show up today. And sometimes, that’s everything.
A Reminder for Us All
So the next time you see that teen behind the counter, take a breath. Don’t just expect efficiency—give a moment of grace. Because you don’t know whose child they are, what support they’ve been given, or what they’re up against. You don’t know how brave it was for them to step into this role, and how deeply someone, somewhere, is rooting for them.
They’re doing more than a good job. They’re doing something remarkable, in the midst of growing up, learning, and standing tall. Let’s meet them with kindness—because they deserve that kindness, and then some.
— Adapted and expanded from the message originally expressed on RDT News by Jack (September 7, 2025)