I started working at the bookstore in the fall of my sophomore year in high school. It was an intimate little shop where people could buy books or trade in ones they already had. It was there that I learned to appreciate reading. The authors transported me to different time periods and I read all sorts of genres. To this day, I enjoy suspense and mystery novels with the occasional romance thrown in.

That job also sparked my creativity. There were two large windows at the front of the store that I was in charge of decorating each month. At first I didn't like the task, but then one weekend my mom came in to help me. We had a blast, and from then on, it became a ritual.

At the end of my sophomore year, I began lifeguarding while still working at the bookstore. I made between $5 and $6 an hour. I was a lifeguard during the summers throughout high school and college, eventually working my way up to pool manager.

One time I helped a woman who was having a seizure by the pool. Her little five-year-old son was so scared. Once everything was OK, he said, "You saved my mama's life." It's something I'll never forget.

Both of those jobs taught me responsibility and time management. I also learned the importance of doing something you enjoy. Since most of us will work for the majority of our adult lives, your job should be one that you love.