When her Starbucks closed, she found a busier shop
Gloria worked 7.5 months at Starbucks, opened her first 401(k), and memorized her regulars' orders. When her location closed, she job-searched her way to Dunkin', at one of Boston's busiest shops.
Gloria Szwanke joined Bridges right after high school graduation, working with her Boston Youth Employment Specialist starting January 2025. The next month, she was hired at Starbucks as a barista.
She started training in mid-February and learned the menu. Coffee was already a love, she'd been a loyal Starbucks customer before being hired. The job clicked. She felt welcomed by her managers and coworkers, memorized her regulars' orders well enough to impress them, and earned solid tips. She opened her first 401(k) and steadily raised her contributions.
She worked 7.5 months at Starbucks. In October 2025, the South Boston store was permanently closed, one of four Boston Starbucks shut for good that month. Some team members were transferred. Gloria, with the shortest tenure, wasn't.
She used the skills Bridges had given her and ran her own job search. Coffee was still the goal. She applied to Dunkin' and was hired as a crew member in January 2026, at one of Dunkin's busiest shops, located inside Boston Medical Center.
She's learned to manage the morning rush. The team is tight. She'd like to apply for a shift lead role once she has more months under her belt. Long term, Gloria wants to train for a career in healthcare. Working near BMC has been great for her.
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