Where are they now? An interview with former Cookie Cart kid, Chris Pham
Q: When did you work at the Cookie Cart?
A: I started in the summer of 1995, after the 7th grade. I was 13 years old at that time. I continued working at the Cookie Cart until 2000, when I graduated from high school.
Q: What was your favorite thing about working here?
A: I enjoyed working with my peers. Back then, it was a pretty small group of us who worked regularly, so we were like a family.
Q: What have you been doing since you left the Cookie Cart?
A: I graduated with high honors from DeLaSalle High School in the summer of 2000.
I attended college at St. John’s University in Collegeville and the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus. In addition to taking a full load of classes, I worked two part-time jobs while I was in college, and I still managed to complete my undergraduate degree in 4 years.
In 2004, I moved to California to attend graduate school at Chapman University. I worked full-time during the day and went to grad school at night. I received my Master’s Degree in criminal justice in the winter of 2006. While working on my Master’s, I decided that I wanted to go to law school. I was admitted to William Mitchell School of Law in St. Paul and enrolled there in the fall of 2006.
I am currently in my second year of law school at William Mitchell. This past summer, I worked as a summer associate at Lindquist & Vennum law firm in downtown Minneapolis, and I was recently offered a permanent position there after I graduate. I just bought my first house in Northeast Minneapolis, and my girlfriend, Miqua, and I are expecting our first child in January.
Q: Do you think that the experience you gained working at the Cookie Cart has helped you succeed in school and in subsequent jobs? How?
A: Yes, most definitely! The Cookie Cart taught me time management skills that helped me juggle school, work and social life. I also learned conflict management skills, punctuality, taking responsibility for my actions and working with others as team, all of which have helped me in school and work.
Q: Would you recommend working at the Cookie Cart to other young people?
A: Yes, I would. Most employers, especially in retail, can only hire a couple of youth in the 16 - 17 age range. The Cookie Cart hires teens as young as 14 and teaches them skills that they can take with them to subsequent jobs. That experience alone, being able to put on your resume that you have work experience at the age of 16, is huge! Plus, how many 14 year olds can say they have a job making “real” money? I don’t think very many of them can say that. It gives the teens who have experience a real competitive advantage in the job market.
Q: What is your favorite Cookie Cart cookie?
A: When I was working at the Cookie Cart, my favorite was Snickerdoodle. I don’t know if I have a favorite anymore. Last time I had some cookies, I had a variety and enjoyed them all.
Where are they now? An interview with former Cookie Cart kid, Yer Ly
Q: When did you work at the Cookie Cart?
A: I worked at the Cookie Cart in 2003, when I was in the 8th grade.
Q: What was your favorite thing about working at the Cookie Cart?
A: I loved the people I worked with, the educational experiences gained through field trips and the leadership classes. I really just loved the job!
Q: What have you been doing since you left the Cookie Cart?
A: Right now, I am a freshman at Augsburg College with a major in accounting and a minor in business administration. In addition, I volunteer at Fairview Hospital and am currently seeking an internship position at Target headquarters.
Q: Do you think that the experience you gained working at the Cookie Cart has helped you succeed in school and in subsequent jobs? How?
A: The Cookie Cart taught me how to be a responsible employee and how important it is to come to work every day and to be on time. The skills I learned at the Cookie Cart helped me get other jobs with the City of Minneapolis and at Target Corporation headquarters.
Q: Would you recommend working at the Cookie Cart to other young people?
A: Definitely, with no reservations whatsoever! I found the job to be very fun and rewarding. The best part is that you don’t just come to work—you also get to participate in activities around the community that make you feel good about yourself, too.
Q: What is your favorite Cookie Cart cookie?
A: My favorite Cookie Cart cookie was the orange coconut cookie they don’t make anymore. Of the varieties they currently make, my favorite is the Snickerdoodles.
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