Join me in learning about interesting jobs that our peers in the class of 2025 have tried out across Charleston’s part time working industry.
Garrison Gray has had many unique job experiences. He has dabbled in a bit of everything, from bussing tables to cleaning cars – Garrison is a very experienced worker. He currently works at Time to Shine Car Wash, where he will only give you a free wash when his manager is not there. I have first hand experience in this matter, as I was allegedly going to have my car cleaned for free but ended up having to pay $12. Garrison previously worked at The Post House as a busser, Vicious Biscuit as biscuit boy, and Nico SeaFood as a oyster shucker. One day, he decided to throw in the food and bev towel for a more cleaning oriented job. Garrison complains about long hours at the carwash and you will often hear him beg for food as he gets very hungry operating the machines. He recommends the job to just about anyone, and has gotten many of his friends hooked on Time to Shine. Thanks for sharing, Garrison, and keep up the good work.
Olivia has held many jobs over the years – some call her a workaholic – and many fellow raptors love to visit at her current place of employment. At Sweet Julep’s, otherwise known as Olivia’s happy place, you can walk into the candy shop and spot Olivia training a new employee, making chocolates, or helping a customer pick out a fun candy. Olivia loves her job so much that she convinced her friend Lane Yarborough to work there in junior year. Lane quit back in October, claiming that she wasn’t making enough money, but Olivia stuck it out and has earned 2 raises. Well done, Olivia! I hope you won’t be too sad having to leave this special place when you venture off to college later this year. Olivia would tell anyone who asks to get a job at Sweet Juleps if you like to make things with your hands.
Isabelle O’Leary works at Longboard, the new and hip seafood restaurant on Sullivan’s Island. Isabelle is a hostess, busser, and food runner and has worked there since last year. The job is convenient for her as she lives on Sullivan’s. She tells me that she loves her coworkers and finds joy in working because there is always something to be done in a restaurant. During the summer, she worked an average of 20-25 hours a week, and during the school year, she works 12-15 hours a week. Way to go, Isabelle! Before her food and beverage job, Isabelle was a babysitter for local families and was a top-notch TCBY employee from freshmen year to junior year. When asked if she would recommend her jobs, Isabelle says, “For TCBY, I would say it’s good if you are a freshman struggling with finding a job because of your age and limited experience, but if you can pursue a job at a restaurant it is a much better experience (paid higher, fun work team environment, busier).”
Elizabeth Hample definitely has spread her raptor wings across a multitude of working fields. During her summers, she works as a Sailing Camp Instructor at the James Island Yacht Club. She has done this for the past three years, and plans to go back again in June. Elizabeth is a fantastic sailor and the captain of our AMHS sailing team, so this is a perfect job for her! She says that she likes this job because “I get really tanned because I’m outside every day.” However, although some of the kids at camp become her best friends and follow her on TikTok, “some of them are evil,” which we all know can be difficult. She does 40-hour work weeks in the summer! During the school year she works at Half Moon Outfitters as a sales associate, which she also enjoys because of her fun coworkers. Interestingly, she was a nursery worker in church her sophomore year, which she doesn’t recommend.
Donovan Hamilton has also had his fair share of experiences. When asked about his work experience, he said, “I worked at Chuck E. Cheese as a server my sophomore year for 8 months until Track Season. I worked at Arby’s as a cashier through my sophomore summer and Junior year. I did my CCSD Administrator Internship during my Junior year summer break. I don’t work at a job now, but I use my band and business Bring The Hype, and our family business to make some dinero.” He liked Chuck E. Cheese because of the fast-paced and goofy environment. He also loved Arby’s because of the delicious free food, specifically the lamb gyro, and lastly, he says that he learned a lot from his CCSD internship. He worked around 15 hours a week for Arby’s and CEC while working around 25 hours per week in the internship. Nice work Donovan!
Lily Sturm is up next, and wow has she conquered Charleston! To start, she worked at Weezy’s Ice Cream and Cocktails on John’s Island, where she scooped ice cream until the company closed. She shares, “It sucked because I had to clean sidewalks even though I was getting paid dirt.” She now works at Shaka Surf School on Folly Beach as a surf instructor in the summer and as a server at Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French Inc. in downtown Charleston during the school year. In the summer she works 50 hours a week because she goes from Shaka straight to nannying every weekday, and during the school year, she works around 5 hours a week. Go see Lilly at either Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French if you want a delicious French meal or Folly Beach if you want to learn how to surf!
Lastly we have Emily Daniels, who worked as a baker at Wildflour Pastry from June of 2023 and as an engineering intern for Live Oak Consultants last summer. She loves working at Wildflour because it allows her to learn and earn money while doing her hobby. However, she does admit that the job can get a little repetitive; she works there 8 hours a week during the school year. She additionally loved the Live Oak Consultants internship because she learned so much and all the people in the office were amazing and so supportive. She would totally recommend, and is actually about to go back to this internship next summer, where she will be working with modeling software, designing schematics, and doing calculations. She says that is a “worthwhile way to spend your summer if you wish to go into engineering, or any computer science related field” and that “applications should be coming out within the next month or two, best of luck to anyone who applies!” Thanks for sharing Emily!
These seniors have thrived in their individual working environments, from baking to teaching to serving to cleaning, and it is safe to say that our raptors are not afraid to go out in the real world and spread their wings. Keep up the good work, and underclassmen – when you think you are ready to master the duality of being a student and worker, feel free to contact any of these upperclassmen to inquire about job opportunities.
