Summer Job Blues

It's what some would call early- to mid- July, but you wouldn't know. All you seem to care about is how fast five o' clock comes. You're sitting at your desk, tapping your fingers and willing time to go just a little bit faster. If you're like me, this is an all too familiar scenario. This is all taking place for one resounding reason: you're feeling stuck in your summer job.

You know why you're doing this: extra money is always good, including building up those savings accounts for college. Also, your parents have finally buckled down on you, saying this is the year for you to start working. Sometimes, a job only for the summer may seem pointless. However, it is a great stepping stone for other opportunities in the future.

I happened to stumble right into a summer job. My father, a longtime employee of our local gas company, came home one day with an application for summer help. Next thing I knew, I was getting a call from the Human Resources department, a perky woman rattling off all the details of my summer. I'd be working forty hours a week, getting paid $6.50 an hour, and busting my butt being a lackey for the Outreach Services department. I shrugged, knowing I needed a job, and (almost willingly) accepted the offer.

At first, my job didn't seem terrible. It mostly consisted of calling up accounts on a computer screen and reviewing said accounts for certain customer assistance programs. Sure, it was a bit boring by the end of the day, but I looked ahead to Fridays when my overly perky boss would hand me a nice-sized paycheck. But as the weeks dragged on, more responsibility was dumped on me, and the job became more stressful.

But like I said, things are not all bad at the gas company. Three other girls in my building and I have become very close as we mull over the blues of the summer days. Also, the people who I work with are going to be great references in the future. My three "supervisors" (the main people who provide my work) will be excellent references for a job I may go for in the future. I am learning how to work my way around a computer better than I knew how to before. Most importantly, in my opinion, is learning what an 8-5 job is like. When I eventually get out of college and enter the working world, I will already be well-prepared for a full-time working schedule.

In my outside life, things are also good. Although I cannot see my friends everyday, when we do go out, I can afford to go somewhere with my paychecks. More importantly, my parents are beginning to trust me. They are finally seeing that I have enough responsibility to drive, and in exactly three weeks, I am going to take my driver's test, which, in turn, gives me much more freedom.

So, summer jobs may not be the most exciting way to spend your summer. But all in all, they are never a bad experience. Good luck to all!