Newsletter: Celebrating that First Job on Labor Day-What was Your First Job?

Statement

Happy Labor Day!

I know people who are lucky. They always end up in the right place at the right time and success seems to follow them around. But I know a lot more people have found success the old-fashioned way: they've earned it. And it is because of those hardworking people that go to work each day to earn a living and help fuel our economy that we celebrate our nation's Labor Day holiday.

Every one of us started someplace -- that first job -- to develop the skills that serve as the foundation of our work lives.

My dad, Wayne Pompeo, has worked nearly his entire life. He started young. His first paid job at age 12 or 13 was as the telephone switch operator for the phone system in Maxwell, New Mexico.

He started at a very early age because his parents needed him to run the phone switch. Every day after school he would operate the then-state-of-the-art phone system that allowed the people of his very small town to communicate. He says it was fun, but we all know it was hard work. It taught him to be prompt, efficient, and accurate in all that he did. And it taught him the value of a dollar.

My first paid job was scooping ice cream at Baskin-Robbins. I made $2.75 an hour, plus all the ice cream I could eat. Great gig.

I worked at B&R for three years and became Assistant Manager. Serving customers, taking inventory, and cleaning the equipment gave me a perspective on hard work that I have to this day. My son started working painting commercial properties and later, he shagged tennis balls.

What was your first job?

Work and labor matter and should be celebrated. As we take one final break at the end of this summer, let's say thank you to all those men and women who work so hard to create opportunity, to serve their families, and to make our community a better place to live.

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