I think we can all agree that CulinArt is a better food service provider than Aramark. The people are nice, too.

One thing I seem to notice, especially in the dining hall, is the disrespect given to those who prepare and serve our food. Sometimes they feel that their work goes unappreciated by the students. This is something I have experienced firsthand.

Once in a blue moon, I go to the dining hall because, after all, I do have a meal plan. I really only go when this guy named Keyon is making the burgers.

They are extremely delicious and remind me of the burgers my mom or I make at home.

If it isn’t Keyon making the burgers, I won’t eat them. On a Sunday around mid-January, my boyfriend and I went to the dining hall at the dinner rush.

All the burgers were gone, so he was making more. While we waited patiently, he was telling us how people will come over and ask him how long the burgers will take.

Well, the next Tuesday after I got out of my class, I decided to go grab some dinner at the dining hall.

Again, I went during the dinner rush, and all I wanted was a burger. I go in and make sure Keyon is working. Since it was the dinner rush, he had run out of cheeseburgers and was in the process of making more.

I waited patiently, like I always do, then someone came over and asks when the burgers would be done. He said they would be done in about three to four minutes.

I could tell she was impatient because she immediately said that she was on a time crunch and was wondering if she could get a burger now. He said that it would still be a little red on the inside, and she kept questioning him about it like she “would die from eating it or something” as she had stated.

I’m standing there watching this in disbelief because I didn’t think that incidents like this ever occur.

He went on to finish making the burgers, cracking jokes as usual. I always remember to say thank you and tell him that he makes the best burgers.

Honestly, this man is being nice enough to make good quality burgers for you every single day.

Keyon really does care about making the burgers fresh each night, even if it is at dinner rush. He even makes sure they don’t sit out for too long.

So next time, if there are no burgers and he is making them, just be patient and wait. I think that’s all he would want, and others around you would appreciate it as well.

Learn to be nice to each of the cooks and servers. They are making sure you are well fed and don’t go crying to mommy and daddy about the school making you go hungry.

Although these CulinArt workers are paid to be there, most of the cooks and servers still want to be there. Some people truly find joy in interacting with people on a daily basis, or they may just love to cook.

Regardless if you believe that each of the workers have a special role in getting you your food, you should still learn to have some respect. Respect seems to be disappearing from our generation.

Each staff member deserves a thank you and maybe even a quick conversation to know that they are appreciated.

Moral of the story: wait for your food, and say thank you.