Many teachers at Ripon High School had unique first jobs and some memorable experiences that came with them. Which of the staff members were a baker, a driver at a car dealership, and an employee at the Ripona Market?

Teachers Jorge Velasco, Fidel Perez, and Christopher Musseman all started their first job during their childhood. Velasco started working in his fifth grade year.

“I started working at the Ripona Market in fifth grade,” Velasco said. “My job was stocking beverages.”

They decided to start working to make money early on. Velasco started working, so he could pay for some of his own expenses.

“It was really the only job they would give me then, and I wanted it because we were not well off. I enjoyed it because I was able to earn money on my own and buy my own things,” Velasco said.

While some were exceptional in their first jobs, Perez was not well experienced for his.

“I was a driver at a Mercedes Benz dealership, and I had to transport cars to mechanics,” Perez said. “I did not really know how to drive, so I caused a lot of damage.”

Because Perez made some errors during his first job, it eventually led to him quitting.

“I quit my job at the dealership because I cost them too much damage. I am not proud of the damage I cost the cars, but I needed to learn how to drive,” Perez said.

 RHS head football coach , Musseman, had his first job experience at a bakery.

“My first job was working in a bakery,” Musseman said. “I had to set out the dough to defrost, get ready for the next day, and bake cookies.”

All teachers thought their first jobs were mostly different from their careers today. Musseman compared his first job to what he does now.

“The pay is about the same. It was a high school job that didn’t have a lot of responsibility. Do your work and go home,” Musseman said. “The job now doesn’t end when I leave. My first job also wasn’t as rewarding as my current job.”

Being a teacher requires many abilities, and first job experiences can contribute to the process of becoming a teacher. Teachers have to be helpful, giving, and responsible.

“My first job made me more responsible, which is something I have to have nowadays,” Velasco said. “I was always helping like I am now.”

Perez regretted his mistakes when working at the dealership, but he also felt he contributed to them. “I think I cost them $30,000 to $40,000 in damages, but I had a good work ethic.”

Muss throws it back to his baking days with a floral apron.