Nerves, should I go or no?

Hello, I wont say my name, but I applied this year due to a friend I work with who worked at Cedar Point last year and loved it. She knows about my issues and thought this may be a good fit for me. I am having a lot of up and down feelings about it though... in fact it is 7 am I haven't slept since yesterday.

Yesterday I received a call, but didn't answer because I was getting ready for work (I still currently have my job until I know for sure if I am getting hired or not). Well it was for TGI Friday's on the beach, which honestly sounds pretty cool. It is inside (for the most part) and I will always be around other co-workers. So far I read some of the forums and the people seem great. I plan to call back later on today, but I am still so unsure if I should go or not and I have a few questions.

1. One of my main concerns is is the dorms and buses, I don't need much privacy, but I do things that I would like some time alone for. It sounds stupid, but I do online voice acting for some projects, and I don't want to have to put everything on hold. I usually don't have to be too loud or anything, so I figured on my day off... MAYBE, but even that is a big if for me.

2. Buses, I don't own a car, in fact I can't even drive yet... I know chances are I will be mostly be eating in the park, but I am a cheap-scape, I don't like to spend a lot of money on anything, and was wondering if there was an option to bring like a small microwave or something to at least heat up roman noodles or something small like that?

3. I am a pretty closed person. I have a hard time trusting people and going out of my comfort zone. It was the main reason I thought this would be a good idea, but I don't want to feel trapped. I need a chance, but I need help from other's to push me in a direction. If it wasn't for my co-worker talking me in to even apply, I wouldn't be on this forum now.

It may sound weird, but as much as I feel I need to get out and meet more people and experience life outside of my bedroom and work (which is all I do) I am unsure if I want to feel stuck...

Based on what you have written and the fact that you currently have a job, I would say do not accept a job offer from Cedar Point. Most enjoy the environment and working at the point. But not everyone. Sorry if this was not what you were hoping to hear.

Or, you could use this as a mechanism to get yourself out and about, past these mental hurdles that are affecting you now, and will negatively affect you in the future.

Here's one of life's great secrets: everyone has hangups. The more you realize everyone else (even the beautiful people) is also screwed up in their own special ways, the better your life will be.

I say dive in and embrace the experience. Chances to experience this kind of thing reduce drastically as you get older.

I agree with Bluestreaker. Employment at Cedar Point is not for everyone. I literally grew up in, and in the shadow of the park but working there is not a memory I cherish. If you have a good job you are happy with, I'd say don't chance it. Privacy is not readily available at CP and your concerns make me believe that you'd probably be miserable. As far as I am concerned, there is no good reason to be miserable just to try to prove anything to someone else. Trust me, you're not missing much. Go as a guest instead!

The only person who can make this decision is you.

With that being said, working at CP is what you make it to be. Depending on your schedule you may have a lot of "alone" time but more than likely you will around people A LOT. You have to deal with a lot of other employees' behavior. I feel like the first part of the season is the worst because it is hard to get a good night of sleep with drunk people roaming the halls and being loud. A lot of time it is very annoying to ride the bus with people talking loudly on their phones, yelling, or it just being so crowded you lose the meaning of personal space. It can also be very fun to work at CP. I have made lifelong friends, meet some really cool people, and played in the best amusement park in the world all summer long. If you can look past all of the annoying things you will have a good time BUT like I said your experience is what you make it to be. If you go in with an attitude that I am here to work first and have fun and sleep second you should do pretty well.

As for your questions, there are microwaves in the dorms and in the employee store that you can use but I would recommend bringing your own so you don't have to wait to use it at night. For food inside of the park there is an employee cafeteria that is actually cheaper than Mcdonalds by the dorms. You can get fries, a fountain drink, and a burger for around $2.50. If you don't have a car the CP bus will take you to the mall and walmart. It is very crowded but it is free. If you don't want to be as crowded you could take the Sandusky city bus for $1 or make friends with someone who has a car. There are also great opportunities to go on trips to various places. Last summer I went to Niagara falls for $50 round trip plus food while I was there!

CP is a good place to get out of your comfort zone and experience new things but the pay is low, the hours are loooooong, and you will meet the best and worst people ever.

Do it.. you'll always wonder "What if...." if you don't.

Based on what you've said, I'd advise you not to take the job. Privacy is non-existent really, hours are very long and the pay is low. That being said, I used to have the same personality as you. Actually, I'm not much different now. I don't trust easily, I like to be alone most times and I like to make money doing things that I love. My family owns a restaurant in downtown Chicago, I have a guaranteed job no matter what.

The reason why I decided to work and live at CP is because I want to experience something new. I'm in my third year of college, sure I have a boyfriend, but he's in the Air Force, doing what he has to do. Being alone takes a toll on you, at some point you realize on what you're missing out on. My best friend, of 18 years (I'm only 20), owns her own bakery now. She is the youngest business owner in Chicago. When that happened, I realized that I missed out on so many opportunities; I missed out on connections that can help me with my future career. I decided to work at CP because I don't want to miss out on anything, anymore. I don't want to spend life thinking "well what if I did that, what if I opened my mind to new things". I want to make more friends. I want to make new connections. And I realized the only way to do that is to put myself out there, no one was going to do it for me.

With all that being said, only you can answer your question, because you know yourself better than we do.

^ You you tell them not to take the job, then proceed to explain how it's a good thing that should be taken advantage of for personal growth. Whahuh?

One of the problems I see amongst many young adults today is that they've withdrawn into their devices and have less and less socialization with actual humans. Being able to interact and conduct yourself properly out there in the real world is a skill that takes time to master, particularly if you're shy by nature.

Working at a place like Cedar Point will surely seem like close quarters to you, and sometimes that's not a bad thing. I'd venture to say (and I may be wrong) that Cedar Point is a more diverse environment that you've had a chance to experience, and that diversity comes not only from the other people you'll live and ride the bus with, but from customers as well. Restaurant work is some of the best training under fire I can think of, you'll see and hear it all.

I don't consider myself shy, but sometimes I have a hard time breaking in. I went to Cedar Point not knowing a soul and had a couple of rough, lonely days at the beginning. My roommates were asses and so far away from everything that was me. But it was a place that I'd always wanted to work and be a part of, so I was determined. I lucked into a different roommate, and in time, I found a group of friends who were great to hang with, drink and dance with, ride with, and go into town with. Some of those people I still know to this day. Looking back, I see where my experience there also did the most to prepare me for adulthood and it's where I acquired most of my coping skills- more so, in many ways, than high school or college.

I also happen to value private time, and believe it or not I found plenty of time for the solitude I required. A chair outside, a walk on the beach, a ride into town on the ferry, or just hanging out by myself on a midway somewhere to people watch did me good just about every day.

I wouldn't dream of telling you what to do here, but I wish you luck. I guess I weigh in on the "nothing ventured, nothing gained" side. It worked for me, anyway.

BTW, I think the fact that you do on-line voice acting is really interesting. I'm not sure I know what the application is there, but I'd like to know more. And I bet there's someone at Cedar Point who'd like to know more about you, too.

I explained my personal experience. I started by saying, "The reason why I decided to work at CP...", not "This is why you should work at CP".

I don't know the OP, how can I tell him/her that the job is good for personal growth? I cannot, I told my reasoning on why I accepted my job offer and other opportunities that I previously missed out on due to my personality.

^ Well, you sent a lot of mixed messages.

All I know is that while you're young, enjoy the mere opportunity to do this kind of thing. Once you get into the groove of life (job, marriage, kids), you won't be able to do this kind of thing again, ever.

As for the OP, it might be uncomfortable, and it might be hell, but it also might be one awesome experience. Whatever the result, it'll make you a stronger, more rounded person. The fact that you're asking here, tells me you really want to do it in your heart, and your brain is trying to rationalize it ot convince you otherwise. Listen to your heart, always, and go for it.

Accept the job offer and don't look back. There really isn't anything to be nervous about. A lot of people that work at the Point are really cool, not to mention the good tips you might be getting from the vacationing families that eat at TGIFridays on the beach. I was nervous as hell to first join, but by the second week, I made some really cool friends and enjoyed my entire summer.

I guess angelofsin is too nervous to respond back to this long list of advice...

It isn't that I am nerves, I just still have not decided. I have been trying to talk myself into going, but there are things that are making me reconsider myself. Such as I was not chosen to be a server, but a food runner, with the possibility of being trained to be a server, but the amount I will be paid as a food runner seems rather low (even with the 1-2% tips) compared to what I already make at my current job (which I hate).

I still feel like this would be a good opportunity for me, but is working more hours, making less really worth it? Especially when I would have to put other potential ways I make money on hold. I make extra money voice acting, and don't see myself being able to find a good clean quiet environment when working there.

I wanted a clean start and to be able to meet new people and be in a cool environment. I don't want to be thinking about the "what ifs" but my main goal was to try to make more money than what I make at my current job.

It sounds like you're acting a bit entitled. Get used to disappointment, because you won't always get what you want in the future right off the bat, and you'll have to work hard to prove yourself, then you'll get the job you want.

You're coming up with lots of ways to convince yourself this isn't the path for you to take. With that defeatist attitude, and the thought that it's only about making more money instead of learning and advancing your skills, then no, you shouldn't do it. We have enough people in the workforce that think they deserve better, and as a result, resent their current job.

If you only needed "alone time", I think you can find it easily enough. But if you need "Really really alone time" for real-time, live "online voice acting", I think you and your clients will be disappointed. You might have three hours alone, or three minutes, but you won't know which until it happens.

Think about this: Do you want to continue hating your job with the same people who know you and you see every day, or do you want to start new with a job you might love? At Cedar Point, there are many departments to choose from, and it isn't all that rare to hear about people transferring departments if one doesn't work out.

I'm not sure how the hours are in food or at TGIFridays on the beach, but in ride operations, you would get a lot of hours during the week, ranging from 50-70 hours a week, but at the same time, no tips. Also, there is always room to advance in the work place. Just don't be nervous to speak up (in a professional way of course). As for trying to find a quiet environment for your voice acting, how many hours a day do you find yourself working? I'm sure you could find some quiet places.

I'm sorry but this is rather annoying. If you have to think of reasons of why you shouldn't come then don't. They're so many people still waiting for a call back and would love to take your job offer.

^ Good point.