Parents of the HS Class of 2008

[frazzled1]

Has he tried looking at the local movie theater, PackMom? That's where two of my girls worked during high school, and were welcomed back by the manager for college vacations, even when they had only a week or two of availability because of internships or summer study. Theaters are open many hours a day, and (it used to be, anyway) kids over 18 are needed beyond midnight. If his college town has a cineplex, he might find good luck there - especially if he indicates that he'd be available for a weekly shift or two once school starts up again.

Not a glamorous summer job, even if it is in show business. (Just remembered that one of my ds wrote a funny essay once about being a cog in the Dream Factory.)

[geezermom]

S2 is getting really familiar with the sensation of banging his head against a brick wall.

Yup. Summer retail and restaurant jobs around here go to people who need the work to make a real living, young recent graduates looking for steady second jobs, and students who attend college here. I'm starting to dream up household projects that my son can do to work off his car insurance payments.

David Brooks had an interesting column on Monday about new college graduates: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/op...ref=columnists
I liked the following observation, in response to the notion that finding yourself is the first task of adulthood:

Most successful young people don’t look inside and then plan a life. They look outside and find a problem, which summons their life. A relative suffers from Alzheimer’s and a young woman feels called to help cure that disease. A young man works under a miserable boss and must develop management skills so his department can function. Another young woman finds herself confronted by an opportunity she never thought of in a job category she never imagined. This wasn’t in her plans, but this is where she can make her contribution.

This rings true for me, because example #3 describes how I found my life's work. But in my ongoing hot-and-cold response to David Brooks, I thought he was too quick to find easy explanations for the tough climate our kids are facing.

[geezermom]

Just noticed your temp agency suggestion, Consolation. Thanks. And you're right--summer internships at State are harder to get. But it's not easy the rest of the year, either, so congratulations to your son. A friend who's a retired State employee joked to me that his kids couldn't even get internships.

[Alumother]

frazzled1, PackMom, my daughter worked at the movie theater in town when she stayed on campus to work in a lab over one summer. She only got paid minimum wage, but it was better than nothing, and she found the management and organization part of it fascinating.

[PackMom]

Thanks for the movie theater idea! There are two cinaplexes in his college town. I'm going to email him now.
His college town is pretty much like what geezermom described. A lot of the jobs you would expect young people to have are being done by older adults.

[frazzled1]

It can actually lead to a career - a friend of my oldest d, now in her late 20s, has an executive position with Regal after having started by shoveling popcorn into buckets for them a dozen years ago. She travels, hobnobs with big names, and gets some pretty cool stuff at industry parties.

Movie theater managers are always thrilled to have smart, reliable people on staff - if they'll take initiative instead of standing around waiting to be assigned a job, so much the better. The perks are few - free movie tickets, a chance to preview the biggest hits (the night before, but still, it was cool when the early Harry Potter movies came out), and a lifetime aversion to movie popcorn.

[toledo]

I'm a secret shopper for our Regal Theater. I love doing the monthly shops because I get to had out $50 bonuses. The employees just have to smile, answer a simple question, and say, "Enjoy the show." One cashier and one usher (ticket-taker) is eligble each time. I don't know if this is a nationwide program.

[Cayuga]

Hi all--after our D's frosh year, she couldn't find any work, so she placed an ad in two local newpapers advertising her services doing 'odd jobs'. She managed to work pretty steadily and made over $2K for the summer.

[DonnaL]

I usually can't stand David Brooks, and this column was no exception, especially the following statement:

Nearly every sensible middle-aged person would give away all their money to be able to go back to age 22 and begin adulthood anew.

Nonsense. And I'll leave it at that!

[FauxNom]

OlympicLady - glad to hear from a fellow film mom! It sounds like your son has played this just perfectly (with your nudge ) And Alumother, thanks for the encouragement. Yes, it did occur to me that entertainment will always be in demand, but I think the comp sci minor will add just a bit of gravitas to the resume. (We always thought of him as a math/physics guy, so this really has been an adjustment!)

[geezermom]

Donna, I'm usually with you on David Brooks. I bristle at vilifying all baby boomers, for example. A somewhat related question: Does anyone have a child with an unfulfilled dream that doesn't involve working? For my son, it's hiking the Appalachian Trail (for real ). I want him to do those kinds of things. I don't care whether he settles into a real job right after graduation.

[frazzled1]

after our D's frosh year, she couldn't find any work, so she placed an ad in two local newspapers advertising her services doing 'odd jobs'

The need for trustworthy odd job help amongst seniors is huge. If a student wants to make money over the summer, he or she can find as much work as there's time for by marketing their services to the senior population. Notices in church bulletins and at senior centers will make the phone ring, especially if references are emphasized.

I know three people in our small community who have made a second career of doing errands, odd jobs, gardening, cleaning, etc., for seniors. They are always busy. If there's that much need, there's no reason college students can't tap into it, and they'll make contacts that could be potentially helpful. Around here (not an affluent area), the going rate is $20-35 per hour; some folks charge mileage. It's a pain to manage the tax aspect; some kids may need help with that, but it's a good business skill for the resume and shows the kid won't cut corners.

[scout59]

We're older parents, and our son is an only child. Approaching these life transitions, I've always felt wistful that they're both firsts and lasts. This one is no different. For now, I'm happy to have him home for the summer.

Geezermom, this quote of yours really resonated with me because my D is an only, and I feel the same way. I am always mindful that this will happen only once (although that's good sometimes, too - college tuition being one such example!) And it kills me that she won't be home this summer - that's the downside of her internship. Of course I'm happy for her, but would it have been so terrible if she were schleppling at home again with us?

I try not to get too maudlin as I think about next year - the LAST year for everything! (Last Christmas vacation!) When she was younger, in grade school, we used to go to the same place in Florida for Spring Break, but we haven't been back since she started college. I think we're all going back next year for Spring Break.

[geezermom]

Our S consented to take a week's vacation with us in August. Last year he didn't understand why I was so frustrated about not taking a summer trip (we just couldn't figure out how to schedule it). "Being at home is a vacation for me," he said. I know he meant that being back on his urban turf was a relief after nine months in his midwestern college town, which he likes, but not forever. But I would like to think he also didn't mind being with his parents--as long as there was a departure date on the calendar.

Thinking about his and our future: He has watched me be the main caregiver for my mom, who died this year. His dad is older than me. So he knows what can happen. I am determined that he should not make life decisions based on the fact that we're going to get old and he's an only child. But that's also why my heart skipped a beat when he first talked about the Foreign Service, and why I'm glad he actually loves the city where he grew up!

[CountingDown]

S1 hasn't been home for the summer since he left for college. He feels far beyond us.

Will suggest to S2 that he ask around about odd jobs for some of the seniors at our synagogue. He is a big, strapping guy and works hard.