I have been a cook for 16 years. I started off working at Montana’s for 8 years. I then went back to school hoping I could move up and make a career out of it. Boy was I wrong. Dead wrong.

After school ended, I got a job as a cook in a retirement home. I lasted there 8 months, and during that time we went through 3 service managers. They just kept adding to my workload without any training or guidance or pay increase. The Cracker-Jack Union was no help either. At least I got along with the residents, though.

My next job was as a First Cook in a Cafeteria with Compass. It looked promising at first. I was stuck on the grill for the first little bit, because of a short order cook who showed up when she felt like it. The Chef was a complete idiot, and shouldn't be anywhere near a kitchen, and never backed me up when I needed him. I was laid off after two years, and the ***** manager wouldn't give me my Record of Employment. I had to get the Labour Board and my Local MP involved.

After 4 or 5 months, I got a job at Moxie's, a restaurant. That place treated me like crap from day one. After 2 months of getting talked down to and yelled at, I had enough and walked out.

During that time, I was also working casually at CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario). The people there were nice and the pay was nice. The job was too much though. I was going through a medication change, and the 12 hour days and hectic pace were too much. I eventually had to quit. It still haunts me to this day that the job didn't work out. It has been the only place I have worked where I was proud to admit I worked there.

Soon after, I got a job in a cafeteria with Sodexo. The first two weeks were hell. There was constant fighting and bickering. Eventually, the Chef got sacked, and things got worse from there. I was then stuck on the grill and didn't get along with the new Chef. who was a smart-***. I was going through another medication change and tried to tell the chef about my mental health and he just treated me like some drug addict. He then cut my hours, making things worse.

I got hired at Ashbury College as a catering cook. I hardly got any help. I was expected to be able to help everyone else and do my job. The problem is I would be out helping at lunch, while the Chef was in the office. Then I would get yelled at for not getting the catering done. Can't be in two places at once.

I finished the school year, and then planned on going back to school to study cabinet making. I picked up a job as a general labourer in the meantime. Things didn't get off to a good start at school. I was 30 minutes late to my first class, because I couldn't find the room. I was also having trouble keeping up, and handling the long days, and having to spend all of that money. After 3 days, my anxiety was acting up and I quit school.

I then got into a program to try and start my own business. I was really excited for this. I was learning something new and I felt my life was going somewhere. Then it all came crashing down. The business plan just didn't work out, and I took my counselor's and quit the program.

I was unemployed for a long time which caused me great stress, and I was thinking of going on Long Term Disability.

I decided to take my present job as a Grill Cook instead. The people are nice and I get along with the customers, but the job doesn't pay the bills. My parents help me out every month. I have debt issues, and it feels like I'm never going to get out of it.

I hope to go back to school next year, but I have no idea what I want to do. I'm too scared to try anything else, since I've been a trick pony. The cooking thing hasn't worked out and I'm just afraid of making the same mistake again. I have no idea what interests me. I try to improve my life, but I just fall flat on my face each time.


Thanks for reading.