This summer, I have had the great opportunity of working construction every day, a taste of a full-time job that consists of harsh labor in all types of weather conditions. I have met some great people and have also learned many valuable skills I will be able to use in the future. What I have learned on this job will without a doubt help me in the future. The money, well for a 19-year-old, isn't bad, either. But besides that, the one recurring theme throughout my three months working was everyone I met or worked with kept repeating to me, “stay in school.”

Every time I heard that, I always answered “I know, I know,” but then would walk away wondering, why do they keep telling me this? It is almost as if they are disrespecting themselves by saying this job sucks but they're the ones doing it. Although I know that's not the case, I understand what they were trying to tell me. I heard stories beyond stories of construction being some people’s only way out, whether it be coming from another country, having to provide for themselves and even in some cases, getting back on the right track. They kept telling me to stay in school because, although construction is hard work and good pay, they wanted to make sure that I valued my education so I could make even more money and do something I love.

They are 100 percent right; construction is fun and all, but laboring all day will make you age faster than you can imagine. There are some days I get home and I just want to lay in bed, and I'm as sore as can be. I'm not going to lie some nights I lie in bed, thinking to myself, there is no way I am going to work tomorrow. I'm 19 – that should not be happening! But that is how grueling the work is, sometimes.

Working construction has made me value my education so much, not because construction and laboring is a bad job but because you should not have to exert yourself day in and day out for a living. There are some jobs within the construction field that are great, and if you love it, go to school for it; however, I learned from my coworkers not to drop out of school and settle for construction unless you have no other choice. Don't get me wrong – doing this work for the last three months has made me respect all construction workers out there who may not have been as lucky as I am to be able to go to college and have the choice to study to do what they love. They work harder than any people I have ever seen all in order to put food on the table and a roof over their families head, and I have much respect for that.

Overall though, it is safe to say that working as a laborer for a construction company this last month has made me grateful for the opportunity receive the best possible education in order to make sure I wake up every day doing a job I truly love.