Did you work in High School?

[bicentennial_baby]

I did, but not in the traditional way. I went to boarding school in MA from grades 9-12, and we had to work 4-5 hours a week, unpaid, iirc.

I was just thinking about it....Freshman year, Dining Hall, Dishes. Sophomore, Campus Laundry, ewwwww. Junior, Special Asst't to the GLBT Alliance, sweet job!! Senior Yr: Kitchen, 4 hrs a week, only Weds., working with the guys I partied with on the weekends.

Slave labor at the originally Xtian school. A holdover from the 1800s, when it was founded.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

1. I work, for my parents.

Not really a "job," I guess, but I am on their payroll and get a check every two weeks like everyone else. They're real estate brokers. I keep them in line as an "administrative assistant." In other words, I do all the paperwork they so despise and turn it in for review and keep them from falling apart, which they would without my help and that of their other assistant.

[rbnyc]

2. I was a grocery bagger in HS

Then in college I was a switchboard operator, a cook, a nanny and a waitress.

Before I was old enought o get a work permit, I used to go door to door and do yard work or other chores for people in the neighborhood.

[bicentennial_baby]

3. Wow....you rock!

How are you Rene?

[rbnyc]

72. Thanks.

My parents divorced early and my mom had trouble taking care of me. I worked for food money from 3rd grade to 8th grade when I moved in with my dad.

The grocery store money I spent at WaxTrax and the Turntable.

[GOPisEvil]

4. I was a grocery bagger too, at a military base.

During summers, I worked at a Boy Scout camp, teaching swimming and being a lifeguard.

[MrCoffee]

80. sackers of the world unite!

i bagged groceries and bussed tables at an italian joint. had to pay for that car and insurance, you know.

[PeaceNikki]

5. Hell yeah. I was on the "work release" program for 11th & 12th

Only went to school for 3 classes, then off to work - and I got HS credits for work.

I probably would not have graduated without it. I HATED the social aspect of HS and a fair amount of the people there.

[Sugar Smack]

6. I did! I worked in a damned Western Sizzlin'.

And there was always, ALWAYS, the same stereotypical situation of the New Girl and the Bitch Waitress from hell who'd been there awhile. I should tell you about it sometime. And every day, I went home smelling like A-1! It was so gross. Oh, incidentally, I'm the worst waitress I've ever met.

[bicentennial_baby]

21. Yes, you should tell me!!

I love the worst waitress!

[fudge stripe cookays]

62. Sugar!

How the hell ARE you! Missed you.

I had the bitchy waitress thing to deal with, only mine was at a Luby's (yes, I wore orange polyester and nurses' shoes! ). I started at the bottom, bussing tables, and had to deal with the supervisor, Rose. What a fucking *itch. She turned me off food service for LIFE, and I headed straight to retail.

[achtung_circus]

7. Initially a hospital kitchen

during the school year and then summers at a plant that produced 80,000 pounds of McDonald's beef patties per shift. I went from a somewhat pudgy guy to massive shoulders, back and pecs in 2 months.

Some scores got settled that first fall after I started that job. I did it for 5 summers, high school and university.

[Reverend_Smitty]

8. yep

I worked as an aide in a physical therapy clinic during my junior and part of my senior year. It wasn't a bad job but I had to do a LOT of laundry...and that was less than fun

[Joey Liberal]

9. Yes - I needed beer money n/t

[idgiehkt]

10. fast food

I did burger king and TCBY. I loved working at TCBY, we would purposely make the milkshakes too big to fit in the cup and then we could have what was leftover. Yum!

[tammywammy]

11. Yes, Six Flags Customer Service

I started the summer after I turned 16, and soon after turning 18 I was the supervisor. I worked 40+ hours a week during the summer and school breaks. During the school year I worked at least 20 hours a week.

It was a learning experience and set me up well for the future. If you can take someone yelling at you to get their money back (after being there all day) then you can take anything.

[seemunkee]

12. Yes

Started spinning pizzas in 10th grade, worked at the local outdoors outfitter 11,12th and most of college.

[Lex]

13. Yes, since turning 16 I've always had a job, if not two or even 3 once.

High school, college, and through law school.

And this even though my parents had plenty enough to give me if they (and I) had wanted. They paid tuition/board and I worked for the rest of what I needed money-wise.

I preferred working and making my own money.

[Ekirh]

14. I did a short stint at a grocery store

And then worked part time at a Boys and Girls Club (Eventualy worked three years part time there during my community college attempt)

[Nikia]

15. Not during the school year

I had too much going on with extracurriculars and divorced parents. I also was living in a village that wasn't in my school district, which made getting a job difficult.

[Inchworm]

16. I had to - left home at 16

Work or die

[ikojo]

17. I had a paper route during part of my high

school years. During my junior year I worked for the US Census Bureau where I made sure people answered every question on the short form.

If they did not answer the questions then a census taker was sent to their home.

I LOVED that job...I am nosey and really into demographics and such.

What was it like going to boarding school? I guess it prepared you for college, in that you didn't get homesick like a lot of college freshmen do.

[Left Is Write]

18. I babysat a lot. I also had a regular "daycare" job -

the summers between sophomore and junior year and again between junior and senior year. My employer did job share, so she worked Mon, Tues, and half of Wednesday. I cared for her two children while she worked.

Also in my junior year I worked at Hardee's for a while, and the summer after graduation I worked for a phone book publisher.

[Shakespeare]

19. I had to work for my dad every summer as soon as I turned 16.

Turned me into a little workaholic, he did--but it was also very, very cool getting to spend that much time with my dad (am a total daddy's girl).

[Redstone]

20. Box factory. Snack bar. Clothes store. Landscaping. Taking GRE tests for $200 a pop.

Probably some other stuff, but I can't remember.

Redstone

[Divameow77]

22. I worked at

FAO Schwarz in the Mall of America. I don't think I'll ever get that damn song out of my head... Welcome to our world of toys...

[skygazer]

23. I got my first job at 13

Cleaning stalls at a riding stable in exchange for lessons. I worked there until I was 17. When I was 15, I also got a job at a restaurant, keeping the salad bar filled and eventually bussing tables. I also worked one summer as a chambermaid.

I've been working steadily for 33 years and frankly, I'm sick of it!

[Skittles]

28. I hear you stargazer

I haven't had more than one week vacation from work since 1975

[femmocrat]

24. Yep. I worked at the concession counter in one of those huge old-fashioned movie theaters.

I was only 15, but lied and said I was 16 to get the job. It was a lot of fun, although I did get sick of hearing the same movie over and over.

[xmas74]

25. I had no choice.

Waitress, babysitter and carhop/fountain.

[Fox Mulder]

26. Yep.

I worked at the local nursing home in the kitchen from 10th-12th grade.

[Skittles]

27. yes, babysitting , fast food and in a glass factory

yes INDEED

[Mutley]

29. Yeah

I've worked nearly non-stop since I was 16. Had a nice break last year, though. Those were the days...

[Kali]

30. heck yes

summers on the ranch, Grampa always paid good plus it was what I loved

During school there was babysitting, ironing for my mom (which I no longer do), typing bibliography cards for my Dad (professor) and then junior year I got a real job - at a pet store. Worked there for a year or so in college too.

Oh yeah between my sophomore and junior year we traveled for a year while my Dad was on Sabbatical, and spent the winter in Anchorage, Alaska - got my first waitress job there for a couple months - made a killing (pipeline boom days) That was great money for a kid living at home - and I joined a Union! (Arizona is a "right to work" state)

[no name no slogan]

31. From 16 onward, I worked 30 hrs a week

as a telemarketer and/or bill collector, no less. I made pretty good $$$ for the times ($7+/hr in the mid-80s) and it beat flipping burgers. It was okay work for

The only problem? I was a telemarketer.

[Critters2]

32. Northfield Mount Hermon?

I went to seminary with some Northfield grads. And one guy I was in school with taught there for a while afterwards. If it was NHM, I'm not surprised to know ol' Dwight L required work. Gotta build character in all them fallen kids, you know!

[Critters2]

35. Self-delete. Wrong place.

God, I'm a moran!

[bicentennial_baby]

36. You know it!!!

That's my alma mater!

[cloudbase]

33. Sure enough.

I washed dishes at a restaurant, and pumped gas (pre self-serve, of course).

[rustydog]

34. Picked seasonal fruit: apples, cherries, swamped in orchards

[KG]

37. yep. a trophy/awards place. it was a fun place to work.

only slightly dirty work. nothing like fast food or retail hells.

[spindrifter]

38. I had a great job!

I was a page at one of the public libraries. We used to see some really bizarre patrons there. I also got to keep up on my reading!

[1gobluedem]

39. Yes.

Did arts and crafts at school-sponsored day camp then worked at a department store from sophomore year in high school through school breaks my first two years of college.

Loved the extra $$ and the discount on clothes.

Glad I didn't make retail my career.

[Maestro]

40. I worked through High School and College.

And I am still working....

[swag]

41. Worked at a record store at the new local mall (now largely failed)

most week nights and on weekends.

Pretty fun, actually.

[Scooter24]

42. No. My parents forbid me to work throughout school

including college.

[SeattleGirl]

43. Yep, all the way thru.

Babysitting and fast food.

[bicentennial_baby]

44. I know that I'm an anomaly, just so y'all know!

Not my choice!!

And see MyCritters response above...she knows what's up!

[SeattleGirl]

45. Yes, you are an anomaly, babykins

That's why I lurves you!

[bicentennial_baby]

46. Oh, you!!

[SeattleGirl]

47. Hehe.....

[idgiehkt]

54. wow

I didn't even think about babysitting. Yep, I babysat all the way from middle school forward.

[RetroLounge]

48. All the way thru high school

at 14 i worked at a trophy factory, helping them clean up after they lost everything in a fire, and then opened a new location.

at 15 lied about my age and worked at Ponderosa as a dishwasher, busboy, janitor, etc.

at 16 worked as a stockboy at minnesota Fabrics

at 17 worked for my dad doing roofing and siding and gutters.

RL

[ashling]

49. When I was in High School

I worked in a veterinary clinic cleaning up dog shit and other fun things;

Years later I worked as a substitute teacher in several High Schools.

pick one

[RedCappedBandit]

50. Yes

Dishwasher, cook, worked in a theater.. made popcorn .. coffee .. back to being a cook .. etcetera.

[OzarkDem]

51. Babysitting, house cleaning

and a little free lance photography.

In college it was nurse's aide, cocktail waitress (the most lucrative of all my jobs).

[Downtown Hound]

52. Yes, actually I went to work in junior high for my dad's print shop

In high school I worked at a car wash for one summer, and did landscaping the rest of the time.

[SarahB]

53. Oh yeah!

Babysitting, then waitress at a local (now closed) Big Boy (any CT DUers remember Abdow's?), then retail at a clothing store, followed by retail at CVS.

Good times.

[Heidi]

55. Yep, but it didn't feel like work.

I had my first journalism internship when I was 17. Loved it.

[Godhumor]

56. Summers--I worked in an amusement park

Between sophmore year of high school and graduating from college I worked at:

Seabreeze Amusement Park
Media set-up guy for professors
Short Order cook
Waldenbooks employee
Barnes and Noble employee
Kaybee Toy Store employee

Those were a fun few years.

[fizzgig]

57. started babystitting when i was 13 or so

got a job at hardee's when i was 15, moved on to phone surveys, then office assistant, then four grueling years at subway (including 18 months after i graduated college)

[barb162]

58. Yeah, during summer.

[LSK]

59. during the summer, I worked with an electrician

[trackfan]

60. Nope...nor in college, except for 2 months one summer

and actually only about 3 years of my twenties. I guess I had my retirement at the front end, since there isn't a great expectation of it now.

[Adsos Letter]

61. Yup...

started doing yardwork at 14...picked fruit(prunes) during season...worked as frycook at a steakhouse during my Junior year...joined the Army at 17. Retired this year (January) from 30 years of painting. Going back to school next month to complete an unfinished MA in History.

[fudge stripe cookays]

63. I had a couple, starting at 15.

The first two my mom got me in Austin. One, at a money saving newspaper where she worked, I came in and cleaned the place on weekends (first time I'd ever seen a urinal!)

The second, she became a bookkeeper at a plumbing company that had just incorporated AND their previous bookkeeper had been embezzling from the company. She brought me in that summer to help her match packing slips, invoices, etc; write up statements (I have very neat penmanship), make up file folders, and do all sorts of other little odd jobs so she could really get in and get her hands dirty with the accounts.

At 16, I worked Christmases gift wrapping for two elderly ladies at their fancy fu-fu gift shop in Alamo Heights.

I worked for about 2 weeks at Luby's in San Antonio, which I freaking HATED worse than any hate I've experienced since. Turned me off food service completely (ever clean macaroni and cheese out of a high chair and you'll know what I mean).

My senior year in the spring, I got a full time job at Weiner's on Austin Highway. Started in customer service getting layaways out, making payments on layaways, doing refunds...that type of thing. Then they moved me to the Mens section, and all I really remember about the job were folding and refolding the Levis, and making sure the packaged shirts were alternating on the shelf so they didn't slide because of the plastic.

I had a single mom, so if I wanted pocket money, I had to work or wear last years duds. And in high school, that can be pretty traumatic.

[YankeyMCC]

64. Burger King

Often did double shifts during the summer when the city hosted a large fair.

I also had a couple other jobs senior year but Burger King was where I worked the longest during high school.

[bluecrush]

65. I was 16 years old

and got a job as a DJ at a commercial radio station.

[NewWaveChick1981]

66. I worked during the summers starting when I was 16.

My first summer, I worked as a lifeguard and as a clerk in a women's clothing store. I worked a total of 30 hours a week between the two. That's when minimum wage was $2.90 an hour (1979), and it was cool to have money in my pocket for a change. The next summer, I worked as a lifeguard for 35 hours a week. The following summer, right after graduation and just before college, I also worked as a lifeguard for 35 hours a week. I never worked while classes were in session in high school, but working during the summers gave me extra money throughout the year.

[MissMillie]

67. sure did

almost as soon as I turned 16.

I started out working in the kitchen of a nursing home. Then moved out to the front desk (reception, filing etc)

[NMDemDist2]

68. I started working at 14

haven't stopped since......

[LanternWaste]

69. Does Six Flags count as work?

Does Six Flags count as work? I ask because it was more fun than work...

Beginning at age 16, I worked at Six Flags every summer until college began. Three hours of sweeping up vomit followed by three hours of flirting with every teen girl in north central Texas.

And of course, the legendary (and unofficial) Six Flags parties held after hours in the employee parking lot. "Good times, good times..."

[tammywammy]

92. I worked there as well

I was in Guest Relations. I did three seasons at Six Flags Over Texas.

[DS1]

70. Video Store guy, Supermarket Cashier, 7-Eleven guy

[dropkickpa]

71. Oh yeah, I worked

I babysat disabled children (usually ones with CP). I worked in a pizza shop. I worked 11pm-7am shift at a donut shop. Worked at a grocery store. Worked in a baseball card shop. Worked fast food. Worked as a short order cook. Parking lot attendant (in colonial costume!!). Kennel worker. Telemarketer. I started working at 13 so I could have money (I'm one of 6; allowance ended at age 12) and haven't had more than 6 months off since then. I'm fucking tired.

[bigwillq]

73. Yes

At a pet store and then at Caldor's.

[SarahB]

81. Caldor's!

I miss all those local discount stores. Target's not bad, but Caldor's, Bradlees, and Ames were great.

[Dastard Stepchild]

74. A bagel shop!

I loved it there. Loved it. Great after school hours, a quirky little shop, great coworkers (a pothead, a skater, a punk, and my high school self... a combination of all three of the above). It was really one of my favorite jobs ever.

[CottonBear]

75. Yes, started work at age 14 and have been at it ever since with only a few breaks.

I worked in my dad's doctor's office full-time one summer. That was my first "real" job.

I babysat and did yard work for my parents for extra money.

I worked in a restaurant and at Record Bar at the mall (cool job!).

[Beer Snob-50]

76. manager of the high schools student store for my senior year

and then worked for friendly's ice cream and bradleys deprt store.

[One_Life_To_Give]

77. 20+hrs/wk, 40+ summers

Fast food restaurant during high school. Picked tobacco during the summers before that.

[ScreamingWhisper]

78. Within 2 days after my 16th Birthday....

I had a premo job working at the Taco Casa in my town's new mall (4:00pm - 9:30pm / M,T,W,F,Sunday). I had saved up over the years and was also able to purchase my first car for $650 (1972 Brown Chevette)that same week. Been working ever since with the exception of my Freshman school year at college. Quite the career path so far: Mexican food fast, Music store, Tupperware plant, college student, Dorm Resident Advisor, Kinko's, Kinko's Trainer, Sign company, Ad agency, Medical company (Media/Illustration)

[ceile]

79. I had 3 jobs my senior year.

Cashier at Whole Foods, waitress at a little Greek cafe and worked in a coffee house. I didn't really need them (one would have been fine), but I was trying to keep myself occupied. I went from participating in numerous after school activities to only one, so I got bored fast.

[baldguy]

82. I was the Bean Boy at a Japanese steak house.

I brought the food out to the table for the chef, watered the customers of they needed it, and at the end of the meal I served the fried bean sprouts and cleaned the grill.

Just for the record - I am not Japanese, even though many many blue-haired oldsters made the assumption that this hazel-eyed German-Irish boy came from the Exotic East just because my uniform had a Mandarin collar & I wore a funny hat.

[MonkeyFunk]

83. hell yeah

we had four kids in my family. Each of us had a paper route until we were 16, and then we got restaurant jobs. It was expected of us. I worked at McDonalds, then a Friendly Ice Cream, and at a Deli.

[Katherine Brengle]

84. 4-5 hrs a week helping to maintain everyone's QOL seems reasonable to me.

And good for building skills kids need when they get out of school.

I worked in high school - summers at a little cabin rental vacation place and all year at Burger King and then later CVS. It sucked and seriously interfered with my ability to do well in school. But my dad was one of those hardass types.

I don't intend to force my daughter to work in high school as long as she maintains her grades and helps out at home.

[MissB]

85. I bagged groceries until I turned 16 and then I became a cashier.

Worked for Safeway. I just had to turn away people that had beer in their carts. When my dad moved out of state after my junior year of high school, I was able to wave goodbye and keep working nights. It was a bit rough on my schoolwork, but I did manage to graduate with honors. I also managed to work in a lot of late-night partying.

[Shell Beau]

86. No, but I did chores around the house!! Does that count?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

87. Mostly farm jobs- bailing hay, etc. And THEN,

in the 12th grade I got my first full time gig- I was given custody of a line of hydraulic press units at a rubber products factory. (Before the jokes start, the answer is NO. Rubbers were NOT made there.)

I went to school by day, then lept into a phone booth to switch costumes and I became a factory worker by night.

Damn, it was hard. I was always exhausted, I was so skinny as to almost be skeletal (but with my frame, who could tell the difference?), and I basically went onto autopilot.

Loved that paycheck, tho'!

[ThatsMyBarack]

88. I worked in my school's library my senior year....

....during my otherwise free periods which, back then, I wished I could have to do homework instead. Today, however, I am grateful for that experience. It has made me into the wonderful librarian I am now!

[Nikia]

91. I did help the kindergarten class

During my non college class days (Tuesday, Thursday and when they were on break) my senior year of high school. I guess that I didn't think of this at work though because I did not get paid and it seemed like a good use of my time since I only had one high school class in the morning.

[Breeze54]

89. My parents required that we start earning our own money at age 15

but we all, already were working by age 12!

Shoveling snow, raking leaves, mowing lawns, babysitting, etc.

At age 15, we could work legally.

My jobs in high school:

1st) Librarian Aide. ( Put books back on shelves - 4 days a week 3 - 6 PM )

2nd) Cashier at grocery store ( 3 - 6 PM 4 days a week and all day Saturday )

3rd) Customer Service Desk at Marshall's

4th) Waitress at mall luncheon counter

5th) Salesperson at baby equipment and supplies store

6th) Temporary job in Acct's Payable for a store like JC Penney's (short summer gig )

I can't believe I remembered all of them!!

I also did a LOT of babysitting in between for extra cash.

[sniffa]

90. i did, but not much

i onLy worked during the summers, and i worked on the "mayor's program" which was a city program to empLoy city youth during the summer.

my first job was picking up trash and whacking weeds around the fresh pond resevoir. my next job was picking up trash around centraL square. my finaL job in that program (2 summers i didn't get a job in the program and it was hard to get a job as a fucking bagger at star market if you're under 16!) i was Lucky to get... i was the 3rd appLication (i showed up hours before they started taking appLications) and i didn't get a job in the program. i was ready to resign myseLf to a summer of Loafing/goLfing and hopefuLLy some odd jobs before i started coLLege, when a week after the program work scheduLe started, i got a phone caLL offering me a job - a new batch of money was added to the program so i made it into the new hires.

this job might have been the funnest/easiest job i ever had. i actuaLLy got paid to act in an improve pLay (which i exceLLed at obviousLy) which invoLved 25 hour weeks for the whoLe summer; the majority of that time spent doing "exercises" with eLderLy peopLe who were our co-stars... who wouLd then go on to wow their neighbors when we performed at their nursing homes.