Being a waitress is a demanding and sometimes thankless job.

It requires attention to detail, multitasking skills and patience. It also demands physical stamina, a can-do attitude and a nurturing mindset.

Serving is not an occupation for everyone, but Julia Daughtery pulls it off quite nicely.

A resident of Akron, Daugherty has been a waitress for eight years, the last 12 months of which have included serving at Knight and Day Diner, 3140 Lititz Pike, Lititz.

"I feel like it takes a certain type of person to be a server," said Daugherty. "You have to be an outgoing person. Obviously, you want to be kind to your customers. But you've also got to have a backbone. You have to have a lot of patience. You have to have a nurturing character."

Typically, Daugherty works 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Knight and Day Diner, serving both the breakfast and lunch crowds. She stressed that those who frequent diners are generally a different clientele from the customers who go to bars or taverns.

"There's definitely a difference in the people who come into diners," said Daugherty. "My clientele is usually a lot of older folks who have lived here for years. It's a lot of businessmen. Honestly, I get a lot of out-of-town people. I have regulars who come in to see me. I like creating relationships with people."

But serving is also a learned skill, and through experience comes wisdom. Daugherty works hard, but she also works smart.

"I feel like I've improved a lot from where I started," said Daugherty. "I used to be pretty shy. Sometimes it's hard to be one person (when things get busy). I work better with chaos. I have patience and I'm flexible."

Daugherty said she relies heavily on gratuities to make financial ends meet.

"I feel like a lot of people do not understand how our paychecks work," said Daugherty. "I've had tables that didn't tip a penny. I've had tables not happy with the way food came out, and they blamed the messenger. I think a lot of it is people who don't understand how much we do for them. But I appreciate what I do and I appreciate the people who come in. They help support my lifestyle."

With not a lot of downtime, servers are always on their feet and constantly on the go. The wear and tear physically takes a toll on one's being.

"It's hard on our bodies," said Daughterty. "Mentally, it can get tiring. Those trays are heavy. It's definitely hard work. But it's just the reality of the serving industry."