Did you work while going to HS and college?

[Kitty 34]

I babysat during my HS years and in college I worked in the cafeteria dishroom and during the summers I worked cleaning the dorms. And in between HS and going off to college I was a camp counselor.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Full time in Summer, very little during the school year initially. Eventually, it transitioned to 40+ hours at work and no more than 6 hours credit per semester, and then dropped school completely when I started traveling for work.

 

[Vijoge]

I started babysitting on weekends at age 12, full time during the summers. At 15 I got my first real job, working for a greeting card company in their factory. I then worked retail for my last two years of high school, prior to beginning employment at our local hospital. I just retired Dec 1 of last year after working for over 54 years if my life.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

I also babysat during my HS years. In college I worked PT at a fast food place for a couple of years (hated it!) and then worked PT in an office at a steel mill.

 

[indygirl99]

Engraver during High school. 4H leader 2 summers after high school. nurses aide full time last 3 years of college.

 

[Hikergirl]

Yes, there was no choice, I had to work when I turned 16.

 

[Bluestars]

I had a baby sitting job that was five days a week after school in high school. I worked in the school library in college.

 

[disny_luvr]

I got my first job as a cashier when I was in high school. When I went to college, I worked during the summer and school breaks in a medical billing office as a filer.

 

[tvguy]

I worked a little in high school and college, but I had to watch how much I made. My dad died when I was 9 and I was getting Social Security Survivors benefits (until age 21 if you stayed in College in those days) and if you earned too much, you lost those benefits.

 

[Bilberry]

I was busy in high school. I babysat, worked at a grocery store, and worked in my father's company.

In college I worked in my fathers company.

 

[melanielll]

I worked 30 hours a week at a grocery store during my last two years of high school. I worked there a few summers when I was in college. During the school years in college, I tutored math and chemistry. I also worked one summer as an operator in a chemical plant. I paid for college on my own.

Both of my children worked while they were in high school. They both worked as private tutors and at those afterschool tutoring businesses. I met with a lot of resistance from other parents. They felt that making my kids work was kind of mean and didn't allow them to enjoy the "most carefree time of their lives." Those people were wrong.

They both had jobs when they were in college, too. Well, one is still in college. My oldest worked as a tutor and at a neurobiology lab at one of the medical schools near her college. It's the same medical school she ended up attending. This year my youngest works at the dean's office, is a transport phenomena tutor, and grades papers. Last year she worked at the dean's office and in a nanoparticle lab. She just finished a semester long internship at a chemical company.

Working is good. It teaches you all of the right things, while allowing you some financial freedom. My husband and I pay for their school, and they get to pocket what they earn. Which is way better than the deal I had.

 

[DisneyOma]

I worked year round in high school and college - full time school schedule with 20+ hours a week working.

Both daughters worked year round in college too, but not in high school. Both had competitive sports and school activities that kept them very busy. Younger one did babysit though!

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I had various part time jobs during high school and college.

High School:
Jr year - Roy Rogers fast food restaurant
Sr year - American Eagle Outfitters

College:
summer after freshman year - Best Department Store jewelry counter
Soph year - intramural sports equipment checkout
summer - SeaWorld San Diego Japanese Village jewelry counter (I got to wear a Kimono!)
Jr year - intramural sports court & field supervisor and RA
summer - hostess at a pizza restaurant
Sr year - intramural sports equipment checkout

 

[rastahomie]

Yep, fast food in high school and college. Gotta pay those dues.

 

[FINFAN]

yep

 

[Jennasis]

I have been working since I was 16. Lots of awful retail positions in highschool. One summer as a camp counselor and a great stint as a receptionist. By the time I was in college I was holding down a 21 credit semester and pulling 40 hour work weeks as a news cameraman (per diem). My senior year I was up to 50+ hours per week at the station and they hired me full time shortly after graduation.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I didn't work in HS aside from a little bit of babysitting- was way too busy with extracurriculars to do so. My parents also wanted me to just focus on being a student. I worked part-time for most of college though.

 

[Squirlz]

Washed dishes at our Country Club for 2 years in High School. In college I got a job cold calling contractors to sell swimming pool plans. Our names were all Henry Adams. Then I got a job in the back at a catalog showroom store. When I finished my college career at Illinois State I had a job at Laesch Dairy Barn frying chicken followed by a job at Stiles Ace Hardware where I learned an absolute wealth of knowledge. All about fasteners, threads, plumbing fittings, pipe fittings, rebuilding kerosene heaters...stuff that has served me well for decades.

 

[bushdianee]

I babysat all weekend every weekend in hs. 3 different families. No social life. In college I had to work as I had to pay all of my college myself plus pay room and board at home, along with all of my personal expenses. It took longer to graduate and I had some loans to pay back but not a huge amount. It was still cheaper to live at home and pay board as I paid 1/4 of my take home pay.

 

[wilkeliza]

HS I worked on a neighbors farm during the summer and babysat. I was too busy during the school year but never passed up opportunities if they came about.

College my first year I was very lucky in not having to work during the school year. I did take a call center job working for the alumni organization because I wanted some extra spending money. I only didn't have to work because I was on a full ride and had made enough from my show cattle the year prior. I worked that summer and then worked 40+ hours a week every year after that because I transfered schools and had to basically start over.