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How My Kid Learned Life Lessons Through His First Job
Every summer, there’s a flood of articles touting the benefits of summer jobs for teens. You read about the authors’ experiences in various tough roles—lifting heavy loads at a foundry, working as an inexperienced health aide, or even shoveling sewage at a dump. We’ve all heard the stories of how our parents walked uphill both ways to school. For my oldest son, getting a job taught him invaluable lessons that my husband and I struggled to impart through our usual methods of nagging, threatening, or grounding.
When Jake was 16, he had his learner’s permit, poor grades, and a burning desire for his driver’s license. The only leverage we had was holding that license hostage. Although he was a loving, funny, and helpful kid, he had a rocky start in high school, even being grounded for most of his freshman year and undergoing testing for learning disabilities. After a tumultuous sophomore year, we sent him off to a summer boarding school in New Hampshire, where he lived in a tent and attended classes six days a week. It was a temporary fix, but by junior year, he was back to his old habits, earning Ds and Fs.
Desperate to get his license, he complained that he was the only junior without one. So, my husband and I laid down the law: either raise your grades to all Bs or find a job. As summer began, Jake didn’t bother to look for work, earning mediocre grades instead. But on the third day of his break, he donned a collared shirt and set out to find a job. After a week of rejection, he was feeling pretty low. I felt for him and started driving him around to local businesses, providing encouragement. Sometimes I’d sneak in to see the places he was applying to. “Would you really work in that thrift store? It looks awful,” I once asked.
“Yes, Mom, I’ll take any job that pays,” he shot back, his frustration mounting. Eventually, he began to take his dad’s advice, following up with phone calls and handwritten thank-you notes. He even asked his working friends for job leads. My husband got him business cards to attach to his applications. After leaving his 40th place, a busy restaurant, he felt defeated. I could see the disappointment in his eyes. “Mr. Johnson, the owner, wasn’t there, so I left my application with my card,” he said.
“It only takes one yes,” I reminded him. “Just like selling a house or finding the right partner; you only need one buyer.” On the way home, he casually mentioned that a waitress had told him there might be an opening in the mornings. I encouraged him to call right away, though he hesitated. He eventually called and got the owner on the line. “Sorry, we don’t have anything,” came the reply.
I felt crushed, but Jake took it like a champ and went back to his room to search for more options. Then, just ten minutes later, the house phone rang. It was Mr. Johnson! “Hi, may I speak with Jake?” I rushed upstairs, barely able to contain my excitement. Moments later, Jake came down with a newfound bounce in his step. “I have an interview this morning,” he announced.
I drove him to the restaurant and waited outside. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with a text: “I got it!” He hopped into the car, and we sped off to celebrate. That day marked a turning point; he went from feeling hopeless to proudly holding his first job—and his driver’s license followed soon after.
He spent the summer working and continued through the following year. While he developed a solid work ethic, his grades didn’t improve much, which affected his college options. Feeling disappointed, he dedicated himself to his studies during his final semester and opted for a gap year after high school, applying to new colleges for the next year.
During his gap year in Central America, he worked two jobs and realized that having one job made it easier to land another. Hungry for independence and cash, he thrived. By the end of summer, he was off to a college that had initially turned him down but agreed to reconsider him during his gap year. In his freshman year, he excelled academically and secured a paid internship in California.
Jake’s first job changed everything for him. It taught him that hard work, determination, adaptability, and a sprinkle of luck could help him achieve his goals. When his younger brother asked for help in finding a job, Jake chuckled, “Sure! Just hit the pavement—walk into 40 places, and you’ll find something.”
Summary
Jake’s journey from a struggling student to a motivated employee showcases the life lessons that come from landing a job. Through perseverance and a willingness to learn, he transformed his outlook on work and responsibility, ultimately leading to his college success. For more on similar experiences, check out our posts on home insemination and the resources provided by ACOG for those interested in pregnancy and family planning.