Quality is Job 1

• Age 8, stacking firewood for my dad
I learned that you should listen to your father, and that the bigger logs are best placed on the bottom (and not on 8-year-old fingers).

• Age 15, employee at World's Largest Fast Food Restaurant franchise
I learned that cleanliness is important when you're talking about food; dropped cheeseburgers always magically land on napkins; and that girls who work in the drive-thru like it on top (Uh, cheese. Yeah, that's what I'm talking about). I also learned that in 1989, $1,250 was enough to buy a reliable if not embarrassing car.

• Age 18, regional Grocery Store chain location
I learned that a smile, hard work and diligence will get you noticed. That is especially true if your co-workers more often exhibit surliness, laziness and a liklihood to steal donuts from the bakery. I learned that girls who work in the checkout lanes do it for cash (Uh, sell groceries, that is. Yeah). Learned that saying "Hello" to every customer really isn't all that hard and helps you help them.

• Age 20, reporter, staff editorial cartoonist, opinion page editor and managing editor of State University Daily Newspaper
I learned that some college girls do it all the time (Ya know, have sex) just not as often with me. Learned that newspaper journalism can be an exciting career, and that not everyone agrees with an editorial cartoonist's opinions. In fact, a political group on campus stormed the newsroom and demanded that I be fired. Learned that co-workers/friends can stick up for you even if they don't agree with your opinions.

• Age 22, reporter/photographer, assistant editor Small Daily Newspaper
Learned that payment doesn't always come in money, but is sometimes paid in experience. Learned a lot about photography, deadlines and small community residents. Witnessed and took part in the daily miracle that was our publication. Found out quickly that kids in the town tend to grow up and leave, making it hard to find members of the opposite sex one's own age with which to date, hang out, etc.

• Age 23, copy editor, Medium-sized Daily Newspaper
Learned that West Texas is great for people with allergies. Never had a problem until I would visit my parents and nearly die. Got better at catching errors in grammar, speling and factual inaccuracies or holes in others' writing. Made me a much better writer in general, but also quite adept at writing headlines. Except for that one on the front page that had a misspelled word in it. Learned that some West Texas girls are itching to move out of their parents' houses and will do many things (including on their parents' sofas) to latch onto a man. Learned never to respond to personal ads. Learned that love can find you when you're not looking. Learned that Oklahoma girls are really special. Or at least one of them is to me.

• Age 25, Husband
Gosh, this is a book's worth of lessons that I'm still reading. In six years, I still haven't scratched the surface of what I have learned, or what I need to learn. Early on, found out what "in sickness and in health" entails. We survived it and it made us stronger.

• Age 25, assistant news editor, sports copy editor, Large Daily Newspaper
Learned that Large Daily Newspapers aren't what they're cracked up to be, especially when you are "promoted" to the night shift. Makes it hard to enjoy being newly married when you see your wife for 5 minutes each morning when she wakes you up with her hairdryer.

• Age 27, advertising copy writer, copy chief, National Retail Department Store chain
Found out that advertising can be fun, and co-workers even moreso. Saw that "corporate life" wasn't really as great as it's cracked up to be. Rediscovered that misguided management is a real bummer and that poo flows downhill. Learned that people in such a setting are astounded when you ride your bicycle to work, but the lesson there was that a 5-minute commute by car (15 minutes by pedal) is something that can keep you at a job longer than you should probably be there. Having lunch at home is a good break from a stressful office, but eventually it's not enough.

• Age 29, New Daddy
I've learned the normal stuff (how to change diapers) and continue to be amazed at how much my son teaches me every day. While I'm fast-becoming a not-so-new daddy, this job is one of my most important because it can help set the tone for my son's life.

• Age 30, editor, Small Weekly Newspaper
Still learning lots of lessons; have learned too many to mention here, just like the entry above. This is a fun, hard, stressful, wonderful job that I'm not ready to leave yet. Not sure where to go from here (I've written about that before), but it doesn't matter for now.

• Age 31, husband to a woman who really hates her job.
I've learned – in the last few minutes even – that if she doesn't quit her job soon, I'm going to quit it for her.