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From secret menu items, to seasonal products, and, of course, a franchise-specific language for sizing, ordering at Starbucks can be daunting. Especially when the clock is ticking with cars behind you in the drive-thru, or there's a long line of people during the morning rush. If you’re looking for a solution to drive-thru indecisiveness, you might have even considered just placing your fate in the hands of your barista and let them take the wheel entirely and decide what drink you get. Well, one TikToker’s viral video is showing why that might not be the best idea.

“Surprise me.” Though a seemingly carefree and innocuous phrase, there’s a reason these two words can often conjure up a cocktail of strong reactions from those who have worked in the service industry. Sure, to a bored bartender or barista during slow hours, being asked to show off their signature drink (or just experiment with new recipes) might be a fun challenge. But, for those who have ever been asked to “surprise” someone while tending a packed line of patrons, the request doesn’t exactly “read the room” when considering your barista’s position.

In the video, TikToker @kristenalk explains that the Starbucks drive-thru line had a 35-minute wait. Nevertheless, she asks the barista for a "surprise me drink."

“I can get you an iced water. That sounds good,” the barista responded, prompting Alk to comment that the barista “did NOT pass the vibe check.”

Surely, Alk didn’t mean any harm when posting this video. One click on the hashtags “#starbuckschallenge” and “#surprisemedrink” in the caption will show that this kind of challenge has been trending on TikTok for some years now. Still, Alk’s divided comment section brings up an important question: Is it rude to ask your barista to “surprise you”?

“You should email Starbucks ! They’ll refund you for sure,” wrote one commenter. “As a fast food worker it’s not that we don’t want to make it but we don’t know what your taste is and not only that some come back bc they don’t like,” wrote another user.

Though some commenters claimed to be former baristas who loved surprising customers, there was a large consensus that this kind of challenge can cause unnecessary obstacles for employees during an already-hectic work shift.

The viral discourse is an important reminder to take proper consideration before participating in the “surprise me” trend—or any internet challenge—at restaurants. If you still want to try it, though, some extra consideration can help you to ensure you’re not doing more harm than good, like only going to an establishment during slow hours, asking for permission before you start recording, and asking the person if they’re in the mood for this kind of challenge to begin with. Though some people might have a blast getting creative behind the counter, others might be just as surprised to be tasked with a weird request while on the clock.

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From secret menu items, to seasonal products, and, of course, a franchise-specific language for sizing, ordering at Starbucks can be daunting. Especially when the clock is ticking with cars behind you in the drive-thru, or there's a long line of people during the morning rush. If you’re looking for a solution to drive-thru indecisiveness, you might have even considered just placing your fate in the hands of your barista and let them take the wheel entirely and decide what drink you get. Well, one TikToker’s viral video is showing why that might not be the best idea.

“Surprise me.” Though a seemingly carefree and innocuous phrase, there’s a reason these two words can often conjure up a cocktail of strong reactions from those who have worked in the service industry. Sure, to a bored bartender or barista during slow hours, being asked to show off their signature drink (or just experiment with new recipes) might be a fun challenge. But, for those who have ever been asked to “surprise” someone while tending a packed line of patrons, the request doesn’t exactly “read the room” when considering your barista’s position.

In the video, TikToker @kristenalk explains that the Starbucks drive-thru line had a 35-minute wait. Nevertheless, she asks the barista for a "surprise me drink."

“I can get you an iced water. That sounds good,” the barista responded, prompting Alk to comment that the barista “did NOT pass the vibe check.”

Surely, Alk didn’t mean any harm when posting this video. One click on the hashtags “#starbuckschallenge” and “#surprisemedrink” in the caption will show that this kind of challenge has been trending on TikTok for some years now. Still, Alk’s divided comment section brings up an important question: Is it rude to ask your barista to “surprise you”?

“You should email Starbucks ! They’ll refund you for sure,” wrote one commenter. “As a fast food worker it’s not that we don’t want to make it but we don’t know what your taste is and not only that some come back bc they don’t like,” wrote another user.

Though some commenters claimed to be former baristas who loved surprising customers, there was a large consensus that this kind of challenge can cause unnecessary obstacles for employees during an already-hectic work shift.

The viral discourse is an important reminder to take proper consideration before participating in the “surprise me” trend—or any internet challenge—at restaurants. If you still want to try it, though, some extra consideration can help you to ensure you’re not doing more harm than good, like only going to an establishment during slow hours, asking for permission before you start recording, and asking the person if they’re in the mood for this kind of challenge to begin with. Though some people might have a blast getting creative behind the counter, others might be just as surprised to be tasked with a weird request while on the clock.

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Although she’s been in showbiz nearly her whole life, Miley Cyrus first earned her big paycheck on the Disney Channel hit Hannah Montana, playing a teen who lives a double life as a rockstar. Since leaving her Disney days behind, Miley has continued to rake in the cash, with movie roles, chart-topping music, and more all helping her net worth climb. In fact, the 30-year-old star reportedly out-earns her famous father, Billy Ray Cyrus, now. So how did Miley get so rich, and how much money is she really worth?

Before landing her role as Hannah Montana, Miley had already gotten a taste of showbiz and started earning paychecks. In 2001, she portrayed a girl named Kylie in her famous dad’s television series, Doc. She also played the part of “Young Ruthie” in the 2003 film Big Fish.

Miley landed her big break though when she auditioned for the role of Hannah Montana at the age of 11. She almost didn’t get the part because producers allegedly thought she was too young — but her dancing and singing skills impressed them. Fun fact: At the time, Miley was also auditioning for a role in the movie, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D, and almost got it, but ditched the project for Hannah Montana.

Hannah Montana ran for a total of four seasons, and some outlets have reported that Miley made $15,o00 per episode while the show was on air. But by the time the Disney Channel series wrapped in 2011, “Hannah Montana” had already become an entire brand. Under the Hannah Montana umbrella, Miley became a teen idol and released several albums of music from the show, participated in numerous tours, and sold tons of Hannah Montana merch. She even released a successful concert film called Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. To give you an idea of just how lucrative her tours might be, the Best of Both Worlds tour earned more than $60 million.

Miley’s own studio album, under her own name, was also released during the Hannah Montana run. In June 2007, she released a two-disc project called Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus. One disc was the second soundtrack from the show, while the other was Miley’s debut album.

In 2008, Miley began actively pursuing her film career again and cashed in more paychecks along the way, starring in the animated comedy Bolt alongside John Travolta. She then tried to secure more mature roles, landing the lead in a film called The Last Song opposite her now ex-husband Liam Hemsworth. In 2012, she starred in an independent film called LOL with Demi Moore and later that year, played the role of an undercover detective in the comedy movie So Undercover.

In 2009, Miley released an autobiography titled Miles to Go. The book was a more personal look at her life at the peak of her Hannah Montana fame for her young fans. It reached number one on The New York Times children’s best seller’s list and sold millions of copies.

But music continues to be one of Miley’s big money-makers. Not including her Hannah Montana albums, Miley has released seven studio albums and is set to release her eighth, Endless Summer Vacation, on March 10, 2023. In anticipation of the full album, Miley dropped the first single, “Flowers” on January 13. The breakup anthem (rumored to be about her ex, Liam) topped the Billboard Hot 100 list for six weeks, became the most-streamed song in a single week on Spotify, and has since earned over 568 million plays (and counting!) on the streaming service.

In 2019, Miley released a song with Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey, called “Don’t Call Me Angel,” for the Charlie’s Angels film remake. The single debuted at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and garnered 26.3 million streams within the first week. From streaming, album sales and YouTube views, Miley’s music has earned her *millions* over the years.

But on top of music and movies, the artist added another revenue stream to her resume with her role as an advisor and a judge on several seasons of the reality singing show, The Voice. She was the youngest person to land a judging role on the show at the time. In 2021, Miley landed a New Year’s Eve special with Pete Davidson on NBC, and returned for a second special in 2022 with her new co-host (and godmother) Dolly Parton.

Aside from her work on Hannah Montana, Miley has also appeared on several other TV series throughout the years. In 2016, she co-starred in the Amazon Studios series Crisis in Six Scenes. In 2019, she acted in an episode of the Netflix series Black Mirror as a pop star named Ashley O, an episode that Miley said she felt is almost just like her life. Miley also recorded a song as Ashely O for the show, which landed on the Billboard charts, making her the first person to have had songs on the Billboard charts under three monikers, Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus and Ashley O.

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Another stream of income for Miley has been her work with brands. One of Miley’s first collabs was her 2009 juniors’ clothing line, Miley Cyrus and Max Azria, which was sold at Walmart. Miley has also worked with other brands like Converse and Marc Jacobs, and likely earned hefty checks from each of those partnerships.

Miley’s still young, so she probably has many more projects in the works. But that doesn’t mean that she isn’t already loaded. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Miley Cyrus’s net worth is $160 million. How many tattoos is that?

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The Ridge View High School teacher is passionate about her job and her community. She's teaching at the very school she graduated from nearly a decade ago.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Mallory Mullen really knows how to make creative imagery come alive, an important skill when you teach AP U.S. History.

"History has a lot of boring things, but it also has a lot of like explosive points," said Leilah Hill. "Ms. Mullen makes a point to say, even though this seems boring now, when we get to this point, it'll all make sense."

Hill is a junior at Ridge View High School in Richland District Two. She says Ms. Mullen is one of the teachers that alumni talk about because of the impact she's making.

"Ms. Mullen is very animated," said Hill. "The first day of school, you could tell she was ready to go. She was very excited. Honestly, she just wants us to succeed -- and she's not going to make it easy."

Dr. Brenda Mack is the principal at Ridge View High School and has fond memories as Mullen as a student.

"It's just amazing that she used to walk these same halls as a student," said Mack. "She sat in these same classrooms and was a part of the Blazer Marching Band, and now she's giving back to our students of today and she's making an impact on them, the way so many of our previous educators impacted her."

"I had a great experience here," said Mullen. "I learned so many things from so many great teachers and I just wanted to be a little part of that."

Mullen continues her efforts outside of the classroom with the Blazer Band as a staff member. Even jumping in the play when needed.

Credit: WLTX

"It's something that brings me joy in and of itself," said Mullen. "It's also fun to maybe not only see me as sitting in front of people and teaching at them, but I can have fun and play half time and word up, too."

"I think my job is to make teenagers believe that they can do more than what they think," said Mullen. "By working hard with discipline, with encouragement, they can do way more than maybe they ever expected to do."

And whether she's in the classroom or making music, one thing is for sure, she's making a difference.

"Ms. Mullen really deserves it," said Hill. "You can really see that everything that she does is with intention and she really just wants us to succeed."

That's why Mallory Mullen is the News19 Teacher of the Week.

If you know a teacher like Mrs. Williams who deserves to be recognized for her hard work in the classroom, you can email us at TOW@WLTX.com.

Aiken Regional Medical Centers occupational therapist Mallory White found her breast cancer tumor in the shower when she was 35 years old on July 15, 2020.

Her doctors told her she could have an appointment in September, but White was not willing to wait that long to get her diagnosis. She found another doctor who saw her two days later and got her a cancer diagnosis and two chemo treatments by September.

“The thing is, 35 years old, no family history. Nobody ever expects it to be them when that’s the case,” said White. “The doctors were telling me, ‘Well, it’s just a knot from too much caffeine.’ Kind of understandable working in health care these days. I had people telling me, ‘Oh, no. It’s just a cyst. It’ll be fine.’ But I think the moment I knew I had cancer was when they were doing an ultrasound to check everything.”

By then, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.

The gravity of the situation set in for White when she and her oncologist, Dr. Flanders, got in a verbal argument that helped her see how serious her situation was.

“In my afternoons, I always tried to see my COVID patients last, so I didn’t worry about cross-contaminating other patients,” said White. “We got into a verbal fight on my first visit because I told him I was going back to work when we were done here because I needed to go see my COVID patients. They needed me, and he told me that if I didn’t stop seeing the COVID patients and got sick, I wouldn’t get my chemo in time. Then it could be very bad. And I think that was probably the first moment I realized exactly how serious everything was.”

After that, White was terrified. She was so scared she recalled shaking the car when her parents drove her to her first appointment.

However, White found ways of coping. She and her hair stylist dyed her hair bright teal blue to “do something crazy, have some fun with it before it was gone.”

White’s husband was also very supportive, as were her friends and family.

“Chemo was not exactly fun, but my husband always made sure I wasn’t alone,” said White. “He made sure there was somebody to sit with me even if they were sound asleep in the chair next to me.”

In total, White had eight rounds of chemo, one surgery, and a double mastectomy in 2020 alone. After that came 34 more rounds of radiation treatment and a chemo pill.

White found out she was cancer free on May 7, 2021, just before her 36th birthday. She and her husband had planned a trip to Disney World, so they waited until they had arrived at the park and she could take a picture in front of Cinderella’s Castle to tell her family she had gone into remission.

For the past year, White has been in remission although she still has to deal with side effects and receive infusions every three months.

The whole cancer and remission journey has been hard on White personally.

White described having difficulty finding clothes to fit her new body post-mastectomy, coping with her lost time with family and friends, dealing with the distance her loved ones had to keep from her to keep her from getting sick with COVID in her immunocompromised state, the lack of support groups for young women her age, and the impact on her psychologically.

“Being at 35 and a cancer diagnosis, it has taken so much from me,” White said. “I spend most of my time off at doctor visits … it’s just the maintenance care that comes after. You’re just robbed of that time. You’re robbed of naivety on everything with this. Once you’ve had chemo, once you’ve had radiation, you can’t unknow that. It makes it really hard to move forward because you want to be that person you were before. But that person you were before, they don’t exist anymore because they know all these things and ... you can’t get back to that, if that makes any sense.”

Fortunately, White has gained things she is grateful for like her strengthened husband, friends she knows she can rely on, her new freedom to travel, and her new outlook on life.

“You learn that it’s never not worth it to be your authentic self,” said White. “I never thought it would be me. I never had any reason to believe it would be me. So, that to me means there’s a bigger message in this that we shouldn’t just expect the status quo on that.”

Nevertheless, White does not consider herself to be a proponent of the pink ribbon or breast cancer awareness month.

“Pink ribbons don’t do anything,” said White. “... The best way we can move this forward as cancer research and advocacy is by giving straight to the source instead of paying for overpaid board members for a foundation ... and other big names that we see this time of year.”

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