My Best Job To Date: The Summer I Worked With the Street Crew

By Emma Pavleck

The summer after I graduated from high school, I quit my job at Total Entertainment Center (TEC) to work for the City of International Falls-Street Department. I was thrilled to get the position because it was a job that many students applied for, but few got. Besides that, it was mainly an outdoor job, which was very appealing after sitting behind a desk for two years selling movies at TEC.

I was really nervous on my first day. We all waited in the city garage for our boss to tell us our new positions. About ten of us students stood there with the regular employees, all men who had worked there for years. Eventually we were assigned our positions. My friend Kelsea and I were put in charge of painting. I was a little relieved because it was a job that did not require very much strength!

One of the many reasons I loved this job was the freedom we had. On a typical day we would arrive at work, tell our boss what we wanted to accomplish that day, hop into our work trucks, and go our separate ways. Kelsea and I painted all over International Falls. We painted playground equipment, pavilions, picnic tables, the beach house and the Chamber of Commerce building.

Being the newbie’s, Kelsea and I got the worst truck in the lot. We would be driving along and it would just break down at random moments in the middle of the street. One morning we got all our supplies loaded into the truck and got about five blocks away from the garage when our truck broke down. Our mechanics came and got us and eventually fixed the truck so we were on our way again.

The second attempt was as bad as the first. The truck started to break down at almost the same spot as the last time so we pulled it into an alley. We kept trying to start it but it died every time. Kelsea was behind the truck calling the garage for help when all of a sudden I got it started! It started moving so I yelled for Kelsea. I leaned over and opened the passenger door. I was driving down the street screaming “Run Kelsea, Run!” Kelsea sprinted down the street and just as she jumped up into the truck it died again. We both laughed so hard we cried. To make things even more embarrassing, we noticed a big group of people watching us the whole time! That was our whole summer in a nutshell. . .one comical episode after another. We had a great time.

I went back the next summer as well. I got a new partner and a new position. I worked with one of my best friends, Brad. We were in charge of trimming, garbage, and upkeep around the playgrounds. I learned a lot that summer. The joke was that Kelsea and I had “killed” the last truck, so Brad and I were stuck with the beast, a huge truck with a manual transmission. After we got our work done, at the end of the day Brad would give me stick-shift lessons. It took a couple of days, but I learned how to drive it and I was soon a pro. I also learned how to work the trimmers. I had used them before at my house, but these were ancient and heavy. After using those every day for four months plus hauling garbage and picnic tables, I was in great shape and stronger than I had ever been before.

My summers working for the city were so much fun! I would probably still be going back if I had not found a full time job after. I loved working outdoors. My co-workers were a blast to work with, and I had a great boss too! I probably will never have another job like it again, so I’m grateful that I had the experience. I am really glad that I had the opportunity to work for the Street Department.