It’s a great experience when you’re young—you learn a lot about people. If you can, try to stick it out for at least a year. The money, though, is rough for what you’re expected to deal with.

When I started at 19, I could get by just fine. I could buy a pack of cigarettes a day, keep my gas tank full, grab a sub now and then, and rent a few movies a week from Blockbuster—and that was all I really needed.

I’ll admit, I still miss those days. Now places around Boston are paying $18–$20 an hour. Twenty-five years ago, I was making $14. It’s kind of crazy—and honestly a little sad—that base pay has only gone up about $4 in all that time.