Representing Yourself With an Ice Cream Flavor Noelle Marie Akemann

After working at an ice cream shop for over a year, I have become familiar with more ice cream flavors than I would have ever imagined. Over forty I believe. Along with the flavors changing every month, I have seen a bit of myself change over the course of my job. Going into it I definitely would have answered strawberry ice cream to describe myself as a flavor. It’s simple and sweet, and definitely overlooked by many, because who would choose that when they could have cookie dough or rainbow sherbet? The thing is, however, strawberry pairs well with many different flavors such as vanilla and chocolate, but also more robust flavors such as mint chocolate chip and cookies and cream.

An easygoing personality, like the flavor of strawberry, is a quality that I have always tried to cultivate because it helps when working with customers, coworkers, or fellow students with a range of personalities. But I have also noticed that being too easygoing can cause you to lose your personality by trying too hard to please others. After many long rushes, late night shifts, and time spent helping customers that were hard to please, I developed a thicker skin and did not allow myself to get caught up in my job to the point where I saw the world...