To Young People Who Have a Job

By Eva Fry

Recently I returned to the work force and found myself working with many young and enthusiastic teenagers and young people. I have been away from the work force for some time and saw a difference in the attitudes and habits of these young people, from when I was young. I have some words of wisdom, which I believe they need to hear. Things I have learned over a lifetime and things I wish I had know when I was young.

1. Honesty is Important

The choices you make today will determine your future. I had a program at Juvenile hall in San Diego, called “Be a Winner in Life” and spoke for ten years to over 10,000 kids. The biggest mistake these young people made was to start using alcohol and drugs and hanging out with the wrong kind of friends. Because of their choices they started doing things they wish they hadn’t done; like stealing things. Some started just taking a package of gum and are now locked up for horrible crimes. Some are murders and top gang members. It happens slowly and graduates to worse things.

Dishonesty is what started their life going down hill. Their lives of crime started doing things they thought were, “just for fun.” I have letters from some of the convicts, published in my book “Letters’ from Juvenile Hall, Kids Helping Kids. I encourage you to read them because these kids hope to save you from what has happened to them. Dishonesty can destroy your life, as it has for them.

When you have a job you must be totally honest in all of your dealings. Honest with the customers and with your employers. Stealing a pencil may seem like a small thing but it can graduate to a big thing. Always be honest.

2. Your Job Is Your Greatest Learning Tool for Your Future.

Don’t look at your job as just a job to make money. Look at it as an opportunity to develop skills you can use as steeping-stones toward other jobs and careers. Understand that everything you learn, in you job, will help you reach your potential. Dave Thomas from Wendy’s was raised in foster homes and went hungry a lot. He said, at age twelve, “when he grew up he would own his own restaurant.” As a young teenager he got a job in a fast food restaurant and set out to learn the business. When he died he owned over 3700 Wendy’s restaurants that were named after his daughter Wendy. His first job started him on a career of great success, because he learned all he could. Your job will be your greatest learning tool for your future too.

3. An Honest Day’s Work For An Honest Days Pay

Your employers need to make money in order to carry on so you can have a job. It is your responsibility to do everything you can to help them be successful. Don’t just put in time. Get excited about handling your responsibilities. Learn all you can. You can learn to work hard which will help you be successful in everything you do. Be thankful to have a job and don’t think you will have to keep this one forever. It is an opportunity to learn things about life and about your self and about where your interests in life are and what you really want to do with your life. Be thankful to be working and learning. Have a good attitude and be thankful you are working.

4. Realize Your Job Will Help You Overcome Fears, Shyness or Lack of Confidence.

Everything is hard at first. We choose not to do the hard things in life, but facing the hard things, helps us have accomplishments. Accomplishments bring us growth and help us discover and develop our gifts and talents. If you don’t try, you will never discover what you are capable of. Take pride in the things you do and take seriously this opportunity. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Learn all you can from others to be the best you can be. If you do, you will overcome your fears and shyness and you will gain confidence in yourself.

When I was young, we were so thankful just to have a job because most of us were poor. We did everything we could to be good at our jobs so we could keep our jobs. I hope you will be the same.

Appreciate the opportunity you have to have a job. Your job, whatever it is, will help you develop your gifts and talents and lead you toward your own potential.