Going to a bank to deposit your first check is a great feeling, but what work did you do to get there? Let’s see what some students did for their first check!

Student Dagmawit Ayele’s first job was at Tropical Smoothie. She says some challenges she faced were having to deal with unprofessional management. As well as not knowing right from wrong, with it being her first job. All and all, she says “Getting my first check felt great! I was really proud to see that the hours I was putting in were paying off.” Another student, Haily Abarca, works at Rue 21 and said that rude customers were her challenge. “They didn’t understand what out of stock meant.” Haily would get yelled at by customers frequently when they were out of products. Eventually her checks would start to come in, and her hard work would pay off. “I felt rich and excited.” She even added that she saved most of her checks so that she wouldn’t spend it all!

Many teenagers face the challenges of retail and fast-food jobs. As any job comes with its hardships, being a teenager in a new environment, learning a new job, and trying to do school can be difficult to manage for the first time. These first experiences and first checks can all be beneficial when we grow up. Having some insight on how to deal with customers and coworkers in the future will look good on a resume when looking for an adult job.

There are a few sacrifices that must be made in order to get a check. Considering everything, every two weeks when the check comes in you will know your hard work has paid off. More importantly what did you end up doing with your check?