Manual Labor Jobs Could Potentially Be The Best Decision You Ever Made
Start writing a post

Manual Labor Jobs Could Potentially Be The Best Decision You Ever Made

Everyone enjoys spending summers at the lake, but being more productive could prove to be the best way to actually better yourself.

168
Manual Labor Jobs Could Potentially Be The Best Decision You Ever Made
Luke Otterstad

Working a summer job isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. In fact, it usually isn’t anyone’s idea of a perfect summer. But there are actually many more positives than there are negatives about having a manual labor summer job.

Sure, you don’t get to go to the lake, wake up at noon every day, or have a totally open schedule for three straight months. You won’t hit up every party that you get invited to. But when you throw your boots on and get down to business doing a construction job, you’re rewarded with much more than what meets the eye.

When you get down to the brass tax and go through an entire summer season of any type of construction work, you gain the ability to work far harder than you ever have. You begin to understand that you can exceed what you once believed were the boundaries of human capabilities.

I never once thought I could work a full 12-hour day. Low and behold, I worked a full month straight of 18 hour days every single day. It makes you have this sense of confidence and pride in what you do. You become a stronger person mentally and physically from working those long hours doing those incredibly difficult tasks. It’s an invigorating experience once you’re able to look back on all of it.

When you do any sort of construction, you learn so much about how things are built, and there is quite a bit of thought and effort that goes into simply planning things. For me, I work on a concrete construction crew every summer.

I have spent the last three years doing this. I still don’t know anywhere near as much as I’d like to know about building roads. There’s so much that goes into building streets, driveways, curbs, and sidewalks. It’s so intricate that not many people actually realize how interesting the process truly is.

Working outside is probably the next best thing to being at the lake. No, you’re not sipping drinks with your feet hanging into the water at the end of the dock, but you’re outside in a different environment than what you’re used to, and it’s a highly underrated quality. Changing your environment around you is the best way to fully pull yourself out of a rut. Becoming too habitual will actually result in negative influences on your day to day mentality.

I don’t believe I need to mention it, but the money is astounding. Working three months on a concrete crew, you make anywhere between $12,000 and $18,000 depending on how long of hours your company needs you to work and how many high profile jobs you work for. Federal and state job sites pay a higher wage than just repairing small city roads.

So no, it’s not the most fun way to spend your summer, but the crazy ways that manual labor jobs can actually benefit you are far better than just being lazy, bored, and monotonous all summer long. Get down in the mud, get your hands dirty, and make some money to pay off those student loans!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

41055
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

25606
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

951088
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

133929
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments