Human Interest

Throughout the summer, we've been sharing listener stories about the summer jobs that influenced them the most. Today, we hear about working the night shift at an Atlantic City Expressway gas station, and about working on Truitt's Rolling Store -- basically, a convenience store on wheels -- in rural Alabama.

For our summer jobs series, listeners tell us about working as a fly picker in a jam factory, the hazards of canning pineapple, and why your low-end brand peas might have been high quality the summer of 1969.

For our summer jobs series, listeners tell us about working as a fly picker in a jam factory, the hazards of canning pineapple, and why your low-end brand peas might have been high quality the summer of 1969.

Our summer jobs series continues with one of the hardest jobs out there -- waiting tables. We hear from several former waitresses, including our own Michele Norris.

Our summer jobs series continues with one of the hardest jobs out there -- waiting tables. We hear from several former waitresses, including our own Michele Norris.

As part of our ongoing series on summer jobs, Michele Norris and Robert Siegel hear some of the valuable lessons learned while on the job. Advice columnist Amy Dickinson talks about learning how to be a good employee; Utah Sen. Bob Bennett talks about being a mailboy in his grandfather's paint company; and we hear letters from two listeners, one who quit her summer job rather than do something unethical, and another who was wrongly accused of misbehavior.

As part of our ongoing series on summer jobs, Michele Norris and Robert Siegel hear some of the valuable lessons learned while on the job. Advice columnist Amy Dickinson talks about learning how to be a good employee; Utah Sen. Bob Bennett talks about being a mailboy in his grandfather's paint company; and we hear letters from two listeners, one who quit her summer job rather than do something unethical, and another who was wrongly accused of misbehavior.

Some summer jobs are just dirty work, but that doesn't mean they're devoid of joy. As part of our series on summer jobs, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords talks about mucking stables; and listener Matthew Debord takes us back to his youth in Huntington, W.Va., when he was a garbage man.

Throughout the summer, we'll be hearing from people about the summer job that influenced them the most. Melissa Block and Robert Siegel read from a few of the couple of hundred e-mails our listeners have sent in, and Block talks with writer Paul Dickson, who recounts his days working as an assembly line stocker at the Otis elevator factory in Yonkers, N.Y.

Throughout the summer, we'll be hearing from people about the summer job that influenced them the most. Melissa Block and Robert Siegel read from a few of the couple of hundred e-mails our listeners have sent in, and Block talks with writer Paul Dickson, who recounts his days working as an assembly line stocker at the Otis elevator factory in Yonkers, N.Y.