Looking for some inspiration to fuel your summer job search – or maybe just a yearbook quote?
“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”
It was Benjamin Franklin who imparted this wisdom originally. That’s what they say, anyway, though there’s no proof. But, Ben, if it was you, thanks, man, because we needed an impactful quote to lead off this article and, more importantly, we needed a way to remind pupils of any age that student jobs and summer jobs, even when an internship, literally can yield a big payout if it teaches you something.
Flash forward from the “penny saved, penny earned” days of Ben Franklin. There’s this dude, Walker Percy, who said, “You can get all As and still flunk life.” And this chick, Lily Tomlin, who said, “I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.” And another dude named John Dewey who said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
The conventional wisdom is that you learn how to live life by living it. While at school, learn everything you can about learning. Then when you’re let out of school for the day – or for the summer – or forever – take what you learned about learning and apply it to how you’re living your life.
And that’s where the summer job takes on a greater meaning.
We tell job seekers who are college or advanced-degree students seeking a job much the same thing we tell teenage job seekers, who are students, as well (or better be!). And that is, take what you’re interested in or what you love and build on it. If all else fails, bite the bullet in the name of character building. You learn more from mistakes than successes. And sometimes by doing something you hate, you’re able to validate what you love. Then begin to build on this new foundation.
When you work at something you love, or at least something that might ultimately lead you to work at something you love, you’re learning how to maximize your potential and live a more fulfilling life. As they say, do what you love and the money will follow. And that, as they say, you can take to the bank. It could begin with your next summer job…