Going to classes, doing homework and studying for tests can be stressful enough for anyone, but some students add pressure by working in restaurants while they are not in class. Ryan Devillier, business management junior from Thibodaux, has worked at Chili’s in Thibodaux for over a year. He said he mostly serves and cooks but does a little bit of everything.

Devillier works 25-30 hours a week and carries 15 hours at Nicholls. He said he has to manage his time wisely and take advantage of his free time to get his schoolwork done. He works nights, so he usually has time between getting out of class and starting his shift to study.

He said working as a Chili’s server can be very stressful when dealing with uncooperative customers. “Every position has its own stress,” he said.

Devillier likes working in restaurants partly because it is all he knows, having been working in restaurants since he was 16 years old. He also likes the opportunity to make new friends.

“Every guest I serve is a potential friend,” he said. Devillier said he likes having customers visit Chili’s after being served by him and request to have him serve them again.

Devillier likes the opportunity to make friends with his co-workers as well. He said his job can be entertaining sometimes ,especially when he and his co-workers play games to make the shifts go by quicker. They play Old Maid, where they make an Old Maid card and hide it on each other, and whoever has it last has to roll extra silverware, he said.

However, Devillier said sometimes things are not fun and people get angry. If there is a lack of communication during a rush, things will not run smoothly, he said. This can be very frustrating for him, and it is the only thing he does not like about his job, he said.

Adam Grantham, mass communication junior from Houma, works 40 hours a week as a server at Olive Garden and is a full-time student at Nicholls.

“Because you deal with the public, it can be stressful sometimes, but other times it can be very fun. It just depends on your customers,” he said.

The main things that make the job stressful are unsatisfied customers and co-workers not doing what they are supposed to, he said.

Grantham carries 12 hours at school and gets to study at night since he only works during the day on weekdays and has Tuesdays and Thursdays off. He picks up the rest of his hours on the weekends.

“Olive Garden is really good at working around my school schedule,” he said.

Grantham said he likes working at restaurants because he is a people person.

“I love meeting new people and getting to know them. A restaurant allows that to happen. Not to mention the money is not bad for a college student, especially if you are good at serving,” he said.

Though the money a server makes varies and depends on many factors, Grantham said he probably makes more money than someone who works for minimum wage.

Brian Boyer, finance sophomore from Paradis, works at Sailfish in Luling. He mostly serves but sometimes works in other positions in the kitchen.

“It gets very fast-paced. I’m always doing something when it’s busy, especially if I’m in the back cooking. There is no time for breaks,” he said.

Boyer does have time to study, though, since he works only 18 hours a week. He studies during the week because he only works on Saturdays and Sundays, he said.

Boyer said he likes working at Sailfish because of all the people he gets to meet. Because most restaurants have a high turnover rate, he makes new friends every few months, he said.

Boyer said the most bizarre thing he ever saw while at work was a customer who tripped over her high heels when she walked through the front door. He said she fell, hitting a table on her way down ,and landed on her face.