One of the most stressful parts of starting a new job, is acclimating to the culture and values of the workplace. In the article, "Identity, Authority, and Learning to Write in New Workplaces," Elizabeth Wardle explains the different ways a person has to adapt to a new work place. To become successful in the work place, one must fit in with the co-workers, and conform to the way that the business runs.
When I started my job, I was seventeen, and all the other hosts were in college. I felt awkward working with the girls especially when they were all very close friends, and I was the new high school girl. I had to jump into conversations and make myself known socially, as well as learn how to successfully host, before they accepted me as their co-worker.
I recently became a server, and had to adapt to the ways that the servers worked throughout the restaurant, which is completely different from the hostess desk. There is different discourse communities within a work place, determined by the position you hold.
After college, I would like to get my teaching credential, and become a teacher. If I'm lucky enough to get a classroom out of college, I'm sure I would face some challenges entering my new workplace. I would have to some how come up with 180 days of lesson plans, and would probably seek help from other teachers that teach the same level and subject as me. Then, staff meetings would be a completely new thing for me, I would probably just sit back and observing the way the teachers communicate together.
On the other hand, when school gets hard, and my stress level is high, I always remind myself that I could always drop out of school, and just be a server for the rest of my life... Then I would never have to join a new discourse community, but then I deal with a crazy customer and remember that I'm finishing school and moving on with my life :)
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