How to Shape the Workhorse "Pillar" Essay

Austin Garza's pillar essay is a terrific example of a workhorse piece.

At first glance, it seems written to lay out his work experience during the pandemic...but you quickly learn about his family history, moral code, personality and resume.

This, in fact, makes it a near-perfect essay in my mind. His other supplementals further bolstered his portfolio.

The University of Texas in Austin played pussy-foot with him--probably only because he's from a popular Southlake zip code seeking a popular major--but eventually admitted him.

And he's earned a chair. Austin's a bright, capable, interesting guy who will enliven a campus crammed with like-minded students.

Congratulations, Austin. You got your first-choice pick. Enjoy.

And thanks for allowing me to reprint this piece. I'm sure future students will learn something about writing from reading it.

Here's the piece.

March 26, 2020. The first day of Texas’ shelter-in-place order.

It didn’t feel like the Coolgreens restaurant I had been working for since the grand opening a year ago. I felt awkward with a mask on my face. Dine-in prohibited, take-out only. The problem was, the phone wasn’t ringing. Not a customer in sight.

I worked as a “salad artist” but, man, I was ready to ditch the uncomfortable mask after only 30 minutes. How was I going to get through the next four hours of my shift? How about the other 25 hours I was supposed to work the rest of the week? What will happen to all of these fresh ingredients I stocked up in the salad bar if no one comes in? We had just won Best New Restaurant but would the business survive?

Part of me wanted to be done with the restaurant because I feared the “new normal.” But that’s not me. I don’t take the easy way out.

I thought back to the four-person panel interview I endured at just 15 years old: palms sweating, legs shaking. Still, they liked me. They hired me. Thank God because my parents said if I wanted a car, I had to be able to afford the payment: $197.81.

“Guess a number,” my boss prompted as we attempt draw for the cash tips made that night.

I picked my lucky number--seven.

My boss handed me the $20 bill.

I turned to my 18 team members to consider who deserved it most: the “sandwich specialist,” Julio, did.

Julio is the best—hardworking, humble.

Every time I walk into work, he greets me with a big smile and yells “Hola wey!” or “What’s up bro!” in Spanish.

“Julio,” I said, “este es para ti, te lo mereces,” meaning “this is for you, you deserve it.”

With all of the racial unrest today, I’m appreciative that I get to work in solidarity with a diverse team. Working with Latinos makes me feel at home because of my Hispanic heritage. Plus, I get to practice my Spanish when my Dad and Abuela aren’t around.

Honestly, I couldn’t leave the owners who gave me my first real job. Nor could I leave the amazing team. Besides, I want to be a part of the Coolgreens success story.

By the end of April, I was the only student out of nine still showing up. Despite any small inconvenience like “the mask” and the huge risk of getting infected by COVID-19, I knew that this was a prime opportunity to prove to myself.

Finally in mid-May, Governor Abbott gave the green light to re-open the doors. We were permitted to seat one-fourth of our capacity. Customers trickled in, some with masks, some without. The phone started ringing again.

A few months later, I got promoted to Manager. At age 16. They said I was ready for the next level. Ready to lead the team. Ready to solve problems.

In fact, I feel the work at Coolgreens has been more useful in my personal development than my other activities. I’ve done philanthropic work through church, served as (name position) of the Carroll Finance Club, and even co-founded my school’s Electoral Debate Club but at Coolgreens, I learned the hard way that “the customer is always right.” I know now how much patience is required in training employees. I learned that running a restaurant can be rewarding but also risky.

The pandemic has brought to light the fragility of the American economic system. Emergencies can make or break a person, a family, a small business. I’m all the more committed to majoring in Finance so I can help others be better prepared for whatever life brings.

For now, though, you can find me at Coolgreens every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday night. Just ask for the manager. Trust me, there’s a big smile behind this mask.