Today's topic is a continuation from last week, when I asked area high school coaches to share summer work experiences that inspired or horrified them into continuing their education.
I received plenty of responses, ranging from stacking bricks to a working as worm ranch wrangler. Remember these summer jobs, young athletes, when you're tired from running laps or lifting weights.
It could be worse.
Bryan Pratt, Bentonville West
The worst summer job I can remember was when my dad got me on with a construction company as a laborer. I spent the entire college school break working construction in Valliant, Okla., remodeling a paper mill. Working seven days a week from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., left no time for fun and games. My summer days consisted of work, sleep and workouts to be ready for the upcoming season. The money wasn't bad and running a jackhammer in extreme heat conditions helped me handle the heat of two-a-days. But I still knew I needed to get my education.
I learned that construction field wasn't for me, but it did teach me how to work hard and appreciate the opportunities I've received.
Tim Tencleve, Subiaco Academy (Basketball)
I grew up on a farm, so putting up hay wasn't a big deal. The worst job ever was tying steel on the bridge between Morrison Bluff and Clarksville. When you tie steel, you are bent over all day and, consequently, your jeans pull down and you get a sunburn in places that have never seen the sun. You sleep on your stomach at night because of the burn.
My worst day in coaching can never match tying steel.
Jessica Phelan, Fayetteville (Volleyball)
Growing up on a small farm, my parents put me in charge of an orphaned calf named Fred when I was in the fourth grade. I bottle-fed Fred every day and night. They sold Fred and I got $45, which I thought was pretty awesome at the time, outside of the fact I had grown quite attached to Fred.
In high school, I earned my 'gas money' working weekends at a German gift shop that sold cuckoo clocks, glass Christmas ornaments and the like. When my kids complain about helping out around the house, I like to tell them when I was their age I had a cow to feed named Fred.
Mike Adams, Farmington
The summer job that inspired me to finish my college degree was being an off-bearer in a tie mill. The work was pretty simple, but brutally hard. I stood with three other guys around a slowly revolving metal turntable that measured 20 feet across.
We were spaced out around the table with a pallet on the floor by each of us. The saws were above us and as each railroad tie was cut, it would roll down a conveyor belt to the turntable. We would pick up the ties as they came to us and stack them on our pallet.
Sounds simple, right?
The problem is that each tie is a solid piece of wood, 7 inches by 9 inches and either 8 1/2 or 9 feet long. They weighed right at 200 pounds each. We didn't do ties every day, but when we did, it was tough. The guys who ran the saws got paid by the board foot, and they would cut until the turntable was so heavy it would stop turning. I had to keep going until they were all off-loaded.
My back still hurts every time I see a railroad track.
Jody Grant, Bentonville
I had several summer jobs, two that specifically made me realize the value of an education.
One summer job was loading shingles on roof tops. The other was unloading watermelon trucks from 4 a.m. until noon on a daily basis.
Shyrah Schisler, Springdale Har-Ber (Volleyball)
I grew up in the country, so I had lots of odd jobs, from bottle-feeding calves to helping with hauling hay. Once I was old enough to help at my dad's small business, I was able to earn a little summer money.
My father and grandfather own Bud's Tire and Wheel in Springfield, Mo. I started rolling tires out for my dad and cleaning wheels for 10 cents apiece. It took a long time to make good money, but I am so thankful I was able to learn what it was to work hard. My dad still does physical labor, and that inspires me each day.
Sports on 07/10/2016