Started as a paperboy, myself, in junior high. I cleared about $7 a week, with tips.
Kept me in tank and airplane model kits for awhile. Learned all about dogs and people on that job, too.
Worked lots of retail and odd jobs thru high school, part time.
Got real popular installing French drains and flagstone walks in one neighborhood.
First full time job was petroleum transfer engineer (pumping gas) during one of the fuel shortages of the 70's.
After high school got a job in a lumber yard making up orders with a forklift, then driving the Mack delivery trucks.
That job paid for night welding school - then worked a few full time & moonlight welding jobs.
Tried college (industrial design & engineering) with mixed results, all the while working part time or co-op jobs to pay rent, eat & pay tuition.
During this period I had part time & co-op jobs with a helicopter mfr, a hospital products mfr, and finally at a jet engine mfr.
Went to work full time at the jet engine co, just in time for the plant to close when the economy tanked.
Got a gig working in the haunted house industry as a designer/fabricator/mover/assembler/operator.
That was fun, creative work with a group of artists, but the hours were crushing and the money was not enough to get myself out of tuition debt.
Presently working in aerospace as a design engineer, again. Pay is good, the work is intense.
Tractor therapy helps.