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ConstanceBarr
Mr.Brown
UWRT1103
23November2015
BaristaLiteracyPaper
Formyproject,Ihavechosentofocusontheliteracyofbeingabarista.This
encompassesalltheskillsneededtocreatebeveragesinatimelymannerthatinclude,butarenot
limitedtocoffee,espresso,andtea.IdecideduponthisliteracybecauseIfeelthatitfitsmylife
thebestandismystrongestliteracyamongthemanyIcouldhavechosenformyproject.My
practicumwasontheStarbucksoncampussoIcouldhavechosentheliteracyofcommunity,the
literacyofcoffee,oreventheliteracyofdiversitybutsinceIhavelengthypriorknowledgeon
beingabaristaIdecideduponthatliteracy.
Mypersonaldefinitionofliteracyistobefullycomfortableandateasewheneither
completingtheliteracyskillorteachingothersthesaidskill.Thismeansthattobefully
competentinaliteracyskill,onemustspendtimepracticingandlearningtheskillindepthand
notjustafewtimes.Theymusthavefullymasteredtheliteracy.
Myliteracyofbeingabaristafitsinwithmypersonaldefinitionofliteracyformany
reasons.Themostpertinentbeing,thatImyselfamabarista.Ihaveworkedasabaristafora
littleoverayearnowandbelievethatIhavemasteredtheskill.Icancrankoutdrinksinunder
fortyfiveseconds(Starbucksstandard)andknowexactlyhowtocreateeverydrinkonthemenu.
Ialsoamabletoteachothershowtobeabarista.Iamacertifiedtrainerandhavehelpedtotrain
atleastfournewmembersofmybaristateamatStarbucks.Mebeingcompletelycomfortable

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workingasabaristaandteachingotherstheskillsneededtobeabaristaqualifiesmeundermy
definitionofliteracy.
Whilemyskillsnowasabaristaareexpert,therewasatimewhenIhadnoideawhatI
wasdoing.OfcourseeveryonehasafirstdaybutIfeltlikeminewastentimesworsethanany
firstdayinthehistoryoftheworld.Ijuststoodinthecorneroftheshopasthelinegrewlonger
andwatchedwithhorrorasotherStarbucksemployeesrushedaroundlikemadpeople;Ieven
managedtospillafewdrinks.IrememberthinkingthatIwouldneverbeabletomirrortheir
actions.FortunatelymyfirstdaycametoanendandIbegantolearntheliteracyofbeinga
baristaalittlemoreeachtimeIwouldcomeintoworkanothershift.OfcourseIdidnotteach
myself,IwastrainedbytheStarbuckslead,Kimberly.Sheismymainliteracysponsorformy
literacy.Withouttheguidanceandhelpofher,IwouldnothavebeenabletolearntheskillsI
neededtobecomeabaristaandwoulddefinitelyneverbeenabletoteachothershowtomaster
theskill.
Beingabaristaandbeingfluentintheliteracy,hasimpactedmylifeinmanywaysandI
believethatcompletingthisprojecthasbroughttolightjusthowtruethisis.Unlikemanyyoung
people,IgettosaythatIenjoymyjobandenjoyinteractingwithmycustomers.Beingabarista
hasbroughtmefriendsandasupportsystemIwouldnothavehadotherwise.Theenvironment
allowsmetocreaterelationshipswithcoworkersandcustomersalikeandforthatIwillbe
forevergrateful.ThisalsohasmadecompletingthisprojectmuchmoreenjoyablethanifIhad
pickedaliteracythatIknewnothingabout.IlovedbeingabletoobserveStarbucksinmy
practicumandfullyseethediversityandwarmenvironmentitprovidesandthenIalsoenjoyed

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beingabletobringthisintomyliteracyprojectbyshowingpeoplehowrewardingtheliteracyof
beingabaristacanbe.