Josh has a long history at Cookie Cart. He started working as a youth employee in 2016, following in the footsteps of his cousins and siblings who also worked at Cookie Cart as teenagers. After graduating our program, Josh worked a few other places before returning as a Bakery Assistant in December 2019. For Josh, being a Bakery Assistant “feels full circle. I looked up to the Bakery Assistants when I was a youth employee, and now I’m the one they’re looking up to.”
What sets Josh apart is the energy he brings to every shift. “I can’t really say that I’ve ever had a bad day. I always say that days could be worse or they could be better. I’m always dancing around, and being positive is just who I am.” Josh’s energy is contagious with his managers saying, “Josh makes others feel included. His relationships with the other Bakery Assistants have been consistently positive and professional. He always seems to have a good story to share.”
Josh’s positive attitude is his secret to his success. “I’m talkative and always laughing and having a good time. The work has to get done and I’d rather get it done and have a good attitude about it than moping around all the time.” Josh’s advice to his peers on how they can become Rising Star is simple: “If you come in with the right attitude, you’re going to go places.”
And Josh is going places. He says he’s taking steps in the right direction for his future. “I’ll start college eventually. I was supposed to go in 2019, but I’m glad I didn’t because the pandemic changed so many things. I don’t know what I want to do yet, but I’m thinking Band Teacher or something in science, maybe biochemistry. There are plenty of doors open for me, I just need to take the step towards the one I want.”