Rynar wrote:
I had my first job when I was 10, working in my uncle's meat market. My job was to climb underneath the industrial disply freezers and break loose all the ice, clean out the drains, and wash the coolers. Once I was done with that I would go into the walk-in freezer and clean all the machinery, the walls and floors, drain, de-ice, and clean the chicken pit, then I would do the dishes.
Looking back on the experience today, it was probably the very best thing that ever happened to me.
I agree with that.
My first "job" was prior to 9th grade, which would make me 13 years old. My dad had a car parts store/gas station. In the Summer I worked full time, M-F 7:30am-6:00pm, Saturday 7am-Noon. During school, I worked after school til closing and every Saturday.
I stocked, took inventory, ran the counter, mixed paints, cleaned both inside and outside the store, pumped gas, did oil jobs, mowed and weeded the grounds, and did maintenance on the building (paint, repair, construction). I also learned to do some of the book keeping.
Since it was my father's business, I made no wage. I got paid to do house chores in the form of a small allowance, which was done after work. I had to clean the house, bathrooms, take out the garbage, do the dishes every night, mow and rake the yards, do the laundry, and babysit my toddler brother on Friday or Saturday night. Past that, I mowed lawns for extra money, once I was old enough to "date".
Was it tough? At times. I had a job my whole life. Sometimes more than one, even while taking a full load of classes. I took 21 hours one semester while holding a 40 hour/wk job. I wouldn't change a thing about it, though. It made me a man in every sense.
/rambling off