By Taylor Lee
Berthoud Recorder

Around Berthoud there are many different opportunities for teens to have summer jobs some work for the Parks and Recreation Department and for some of the local food businesses, but Hays Market is one of the many businesses that employ a fair number of local high school kids.
   
Amanda Thorstensen, 18, has been employed at Hays Market as a cashier for two years. The 2009 graduate is planning on attending Front Range Community College in the fall while continuing to work at Hays for another year or so. She believes the customers are the best part about her job.
   
“Something that I will take away from this experience is meeting so many great people, learning some great skills and I will always remember this place because it has changed my life in a million ways,” Thorstensen explained.
   
A cashier is in charge of ringing up and bagging the groceries, providing excellent customer service, handling money and, Thorstensen added, she tries to make a customer’s day brighter if at all possible. When you walk into Hays Market, you can see Thorstensen and her co-workers who all wear a stylish Hays Market polo shirt, black apron and nametag.
   
“Sometimes Stef [a friend and co-worker] and I sing around and the other cashiers usually like to talk when it’s slow at work to make things more fun,” Thorstensen added.
   
Like Thorstensen, 17-year-old Sami Sproles has also been one of the cashiers to sing and joke around to keep things fun. Sproles will be attending the Signficant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science program during her senior year. She has been working at Hays for almost a year and still plans to work there while attending Secondary Option for Achievement Resulting in Success. Sproles believes that the best thing about her job is the social aspect; because Berthoud is such a small town, the employees form close relationships with their customers.
   
“With being a cashier, it is a lot of routine, knowing how to use the check and credit card machines, scanning and bagging the groceries,” said Sproles. “The thing that I will take from this experience is learning how to handle money and Hays is unique because you know everyone you work with and you know a lot of the people that come in.”