Being a paperboy teaches you everything you need to know in life. Really.
“Being a paperboy teaches you everything you need to know in life. Really.”
A lot of truth to that statement.
I was a paperboy from about 7th grade to a senior in high school. 10th - 12th grade I subbed it out to a neighbor kid to do it during the school year as I had sports after school. I would still do the Saturday and Sunday routes, and go around for collections. (I kept all the tips!)
I wanted to quit in 10th grade but the paper gave me a raise, and said they would put the paper drop at my house. Only had one other route on it. When that guy quit the paper asked if I would take on his route. Okay - but I want another raise. They did.
But then, seeing as I was the only paper boy for that paper drop, they wanted to combine it with another drop about a mile away. Nope - I’m quitting. So they left the drop at my house. And of course as “Drop Manager” - I got paid a bit extra too!
Of course the most important part was dealing with the customers and all of their various quirks and being friendly to them. After I was off to college many of them would see my parents and inquire about me. “Next time he’s home - have him pop over for a soda so we can chat.” (And I would).
Heh - even learning about world events as I would read the paper while walking between houses! (Although for part of one block I stopped doing that as a guy yelled at me for reading his paper - “I’m paying for a NEW paper - not a used one - stop reading my paper!”)