I’m sitting in the same exact area that I used to spend countless hours studying in.
I used to work at this Panera Bread location for 6.5 years.
I would call this place my second home.
It was my second home because:
- I would be working or studying here the same amount of time that I would be at home
- My old managers and co-workers were amazing and felt like a second family to me.
- It would give me a sense of comfort and belonging, whenever I would walk through those doors.
The last time I was here was about 2 years ago before I graduated college.
It took me a long time to come back here and visit.
This place holds a special place in my heart. I don’t know… I felt like I wasn’t emotionally prepared to come here because it was so special.
I guess I felt like if I came back here, I want it to give me that same feeling of “belonging” here. I was afraid to come here and not having it feel like “home”. But at the same time, I wanted to come back to revisit a place that used to give me comfort.
I don’t know.
Today, I just decided to come here. I got to catch up with an old co-worker and now I’m sitting in the same exact place where I used to study.
I would sit here 2-3 hours before my shift started to study, I would even come here on my days off to study.
Instead of studying child development, I’m sitting here working on my lesson plans and my board descriptions.
Full circle.
-Mel
hello melmel 