School’s out! Well, almost. But already, my excitement is dimming as I begin my summer job. My job mainly consists of picking up garbage, and it’s tough, because I’m on my feet for seven hours, and napkins are remarkably difficult to grasp, as they evade capture by dancing mischievously in the wind. It’s a good wage, but time goes really slow. I try not to look at the clock until I figure at least half the day has gone, but then I see that it’s only been an hour and a half. Such, I figure, is the nature of menial labor. This guys knows what I’m talking about.
Photo courtesy flickr user Moosicorn
I do work with some pretty cool people, though, which is a definite plus. Also, I’ve learned some basic lessons I’ll try to keep in mind, even after the summer ends. For one, I used to litter sporadically. Knowing that someone has to pick up that garbage has led me to stop. In addition, I’ve gained appreciation for the work that people do that goes unrecognized. I think that a lot of the lowest paying jobs are the hardest to do, effort-wise. I don’t think this will change any time soon, but treating these workers better is a start.
- Will