First let me start by saying that writing is my least favorite thing to do, so when Matt Kaye asked me to write my story, I panicked a little. But I’m going to give this my best shot so bare with me. My name is Amanda Goodhart, born March 8th, 1996 in Carroll County Maryland, raised by parents working as much as they could to make ends meet. When I was about a year old, my dad had an accident at work and broke both of his hands leading to multiple surgeries, partial disability and being out of work for a while. During that time, my mom provided for our family of four. Eventually my dad went back to work. By the time I was in kindergarten, every day when I got off the bus, if I didn’t have a babysitter, I got to sit at either parent’s job, in a break room off a kitchen or in my dad’s truck at a job site. When I started first grade my parents decided they wanted to move to Long Neck, Delaware where my aunt lived, and we visited every summer. I was super excited to be living right at the beach, but the same cycle was still in play. I would sit at whatever restaurant my mom was working at, waiting for a parent to get off work. I spent a lot of time in kitchens and dining rooms watching and learning things. I may not have had the childhood most kids did but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. This experience has played a big role in making me who I am today and made me a lot closer with my mom today.
My mom is my biggest inspiration, along with my biggest supporter and best friend. She is such a hard-working person and has the biggest heart. When things would get tough she would push through it and do what she had to do for her family. She has taught me to give everything my all, to love the ones close to me, and that I can do anything I set my mind to. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.
Fast forwarding to high school, I got a job working at a pizza shop as a cook. Shock right? To be working in a kitchen. I worked there for about two years up until the one night I went into Buffalo Wild Wings in Rehoboth with some friends and the server told us to apply. And sure enough, my best friend and I applied and both got hired and I quit my other job. I started as a hostess, which I had never done before so I was a little nervous but I caught on quickly. Months in, I was crossed trained for cashier and as time went on, I was crossed trained in everything. Kitchen, serving, bartending and now shift leading. If you would have asked me almost four years ago when I started as a hostess if I would be a shift leader today I would have told you no way. But throughout the years in the company and pushing myself, I’m here, and I couldn’t be happier.
While growing and learning so much in our store, I learned so much about myself and have grown as a person. I’ve also met so many great people and made some of my best friends. I couldn’t be more thankful for H5H. Thank you for having faith in me and pushing me to do more and also seeing that I have potential to grow and do more. I hope to keep growing in this company and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
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