Summer jobs: Part duex

Like any other job opportunity I've taken in the past, I seized this one after a healthy dose of procrastination - and everything went according to unplannedness.

I'm 19. I go to the University of Dallas. And, I sought after this job because I'm an English major, and I knew internship experience in writing would be valuable in the future. I've also greatly enjoyed the past three years I worked for my high school and college newspapers.

But aside from those reasons, I think that getting paid to write is a phenomenon we should continue to uphold. I really I enjoyed getting a $20 paycheck every other week for having written some stories for my college newspaper: it was so new - and addicting. But the work at a daily sometimes deadens the sweet highs of getting paid.

News happens fast, and it disappears even faster. As soon as an article I'm satisfied with is printed, another that I rushed through and sloppily wrote takes its place in tomorrow's spot, for all to see. Nine-to-5s are awful too, especially after coming home from college. I advocate the siesta, or a shorter workday.

Nevertheless, this job is very gratifying. It's easy to forget that people read what I write (I hope), and when I realize that I've contributed to the information interchange, I high-five myself. I've never written this much before, and I hope that frequently writing will erode my bad writing habits through sheer attrition.

Here are some experiences from other students in the area:

NATHAN CASTILLO

Nathan, 19, participated in JROTC in high school before graduating from OHS in 2007 and said the program contributed to his work ethic as a general services employee at Firestone Complete Auto Care.

"Every day is a different scenario. If I can't fix it, I'll find a way - it's always a challenge I like to take," he said. "I have the type of personality so that if I start on a job, I want to finish it."

He said JROTC is important to him and his future hopes.

"It was different, and I liked it," he said. "I always had someone telling me what to do and that taught me self-discipline."

Nathan chose his job because he often worked on his own vehicle. He's also in the process of obtaining his Commercial Driver's License to become a truck driver, but he's not intent on leaving Firestone in the near future.

"I'm not looking forward to leaving any time soon," he said. "Firestone's a good place to work. It's a one-stop shop where you can get any service for your car."

The benefits of frequently working on vehicles also have helped, Nathan said.

"I know how to work on things that not many people know how to do," he said. Those things include oil changes, tire changes and rotations, battery work and vehicle inspections.

But Nathan's aspirations extend beyond expanding his knowledge of vehicle repair.

"I also was thinking about going into the military," he said. "I'm still thinking about it, but nothing has happened so far. I want to be a radiologist in the army and go into the medical field."

NATALIE FLORES

Quiet and air-conditioned environments provide favorable job opportunities, and library assistants can enjoy such a haven while expanding their knowledge.

Natalie, 20, is an education major at Odessa College and works at the Ector County Public Library.

"I wanted to work inside, and the library is quiet and inside - I love it," she said.

The library is an easy-going workplace that allows for time to research, she added.

"Everything isn't so fast-paced, and it's easy to get the job done," she said.

Her tasks at work include issuing library cards, checking books out and in, and re-shelving books, which sometimes sparks her attention.

"When I put books away I sometimes stop and read them - especially biographies," she said. "And fiction, too. I'm not a big reader, but sometimes a title or a cover catches my eye, and I end up checking it out. Now, I'm reading more than I did."

Some of her friends don't see themselves enjoying working in the library, but Natalie said she disagrees.

"I guess it depends on the person," she said. "Some of my friends say, ‘You work at the library? Isn't that boring?' and I say ‘No, it's not!' "

ANDREA MCCOLLUM

Andrea McCollum, 18, surrounds herself with sweets every day at DJ's Cakes, where she takes care of everything from baking and decorating to taking orders and answering phones.

She chose the job because she's been around the bakery her entire life, having known the storeowner's daughter since first grade.

"I get to work with my best friend, and they're like another family to me," she said. "I like everybody I work with, and we don't bicker with each other."

Andrea has learned to make a variety of sweets and other baked goods since she began working at DJ's Cakes three years ago.

"I've learned how to make different candies, and I could tell you how to make cookie dough in my sleep; I've made so many different cookie doughs."

She also said not many people share the experience she's been able to gain.

"I know how to make a lot of things others wished they knew how to do," she said. "And people get excited when they know I work here - especially doctors' offices."

Andrea began working at DJ's Cakes as holiday help, and her involvement has grown since then.

"I started working during Thanksgiving and Christmas and I just never went way," she said. "It's also hard to train new people during busy times."

She graduated from Permian in May and plans to attend Odessa College this fall.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second in a two part series on summer jobs for college students. Today, OA summer intern John Corrales writes about his own experiences and those of others in the Permian Basin.