Summer Teen jobs that helped you build "character"

[MJZiggy]

Good. That means I won't have to tell you to go get a job.

[oregonpackfan]

Long summers of baling hay come to mind. Now that's rough work.

I did some baling hay as well. I hated having to wear long-sleeved shirts while baling hay. If you didn't cover the insides of your forearms got welts from the hay bales.

Because I was skinny, I was often assigned to driving the tractor which pulled the wagon--much to my relief!

[packinpatland]

Long summers of baling hay come to mind. Now that's rough work.

I did some baling hay as well. I hated having to wear long-sleeved shirts while baling hay. If you didn't cover the insides of your forearms got welts from the hay bales.

Because I was skinny, I was often assigned to driving the tractor which pulled the wagon--much to my relief!

.....and Mom said "why doesn't that boy eat more?"

[Partial]

I did basement repairs for a summer while in high school. That was brutal but it made me much stronger and taught me how to work hard. All in all it was an experience i'd recommend to every young man.

[MadtownPacker]

Hmm, where to start.

I guess the one that sucked the most was pulling carrot bolts out by hand for 6 days a week for about 2 1/2 months when I was 16. These are carrots that grow wild and have a hard stem that grows about 3-5ft tall. They can't be eaten and the machines that pick tha carrots will jam if these arent removed so it has to be pulled out completely from the root. I would be given gloves at first but they wouldnt even last a few hours. The first few weeks was hell cuz my hands where all tore up from pulling them, and my legs where tired of walking very narrow 1/4 mile rows one foot in front of the other. It sucked to the point where I rank picking grapes higher only slighty better.

[BallHawk]

I'm working as a Jr. Camp Counselor this summer. I'm getting roughly $20 a day, 5 days a week, over 4 weeks. So, through the whole thing I'm getting $400 and they may give a $200 gift certificate to Target at the end. Beats working at Publix, that's for sure.

[Iron Mike]

Hmm, where to start.

I guess the one that sucked the most was pulling carrot bolts out by hand for 6 days a week for about 2 1/2 months when I was 16. These are carrots that grow wild and have a hard stem that grows about 3-5ft tall. They can't be eaten and the machines that pick tha carrots will jam if these arent removed so it has to be pulled out completely from the root. I would be given gloves at first but they wouldnt even last a few hours. The first few weeks was hell cuz my hands where all tore up from pulling them, and my legs where tired of walking very narrow 1/4 mile rows one foot in front of the other. It sucked to the point where I rank picking grapes higher only slighty better.

You were actually pulling up Queen Anne's Lace:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DACA6