I grew up watching TV shows that always had that one episode where the main characters had a lemonade stand and sold lemonade to all their neighbors. You know what I’m talking about. Anyways, when I was younger I knew I wanted to make my own trinkets instead of selling drinks so I chose to make jewelry. My mom helped me buy the right supplies: beads, elastic strings, and metal wires; I started making bracelets the moment I got back in the car. I made all sorts of designs and patterns, I priced them according to the beads that were used.
However, I made sure that none of my products exceeded a price of more than $5. Then during the summer, I went around my neighborhood and started selling my product. I was a traveling saleswoman by the age of 10. I would knock on their doors or ring the doorbell and if I answered, I would have the same opening line: “Hi!
Selling Jewelry During The Summer
My name is Gail Garcia and I made these high quality handmade bracelets. Would you like to purchase one?” More or less, I sold a few. I didn’t always have a sale though, but that’s okay because I knew that’s how businesses were. By the end of the summer, I made a small profit and was pretty happy how my mini shop had turned out. It was a bit intimidating at first, walking around and asking strangers to buy jewelry from you. However, ever since then I haven’t been afraid to speak out and express myself.
Fast forward to my sophomore year of high school. I had just turned 16 and decided that it was time for me to have a summer job. Since I loved reading, I wanted to work for my local bookstore but my mom wouldn’t let me have any retail or fast food job because she believed that they were a waste of my time (she’s very strict). Then I realized that I was old enough to apply for a lab internship at my local laboratory.
Getting A Job In High School
It was the perfect fit for me: I love science, I would get an educating experience, and it would look great on college applications. I really wanted to start working because I grew tired and guilty for asking my parents for money every time I wanted something. I had grown up with my mom teaching me the value of money and I knew that it didn’t grow on trees. On the contrary, my parents did not want me to have a job at all at first. They argued that I would have less time for school and school activities.
However, when I told them my reasoning to learn the value of the dollar and that this work experience would help me later in life, they couldn’t argue. Plus, it was a job that they were satisfied with and they didn’t have to pay for my Homecoming tickets anymore. This extra income taught me how to manage my money and to appreciate what my parents do to put food on the table.
It was my first step into adulthood, where my mom helped me open my first bank account and I learned how to put a percentage of my paycheck into my savings account. It was also a good learning experience for time management as well. On top of working, I had club obligations, classes to study for (I took a lot of AP classes in high school), and two little sisters to take care of. Working on the side is not an easy task but even with all the work that I put in I managed to get accepted to a university and major that I want to pursue a career in.
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Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.