Lucas Topham

For my main high school job, I worked at Kroger as a cashier when I first started. It was my introduction to the real working world, and I quickly learned that retail life was nothing like the easy shifts I had imagined. Over time, I got the opportunity to work in several other positions around the store, including online order pickup, grocery/stocking, dairy/receiving—where I mainly operated the electric pallet jack while unloading trucks—and basic courtesy clerk assignments. Each role came with its own challenges, but they all taught me valuable lessons about hard work, time management, and dealing with the public.As a cashier, I had to stand for eight or more hours at a time with only short breaks. My feet would ache by the end of the shift, especially during busy weekends or holiday rushes when the lines never seemed to end. The job required constant focus: scanning items quickly and accurately, handling price adjustments on the spot, performing basic math for coupons or discounts, and learning proper customer service etiquette. I had to stay polite and professional even when customers were rude, impatient, or trying to argue over a few cents. Some days felt like a nonstop test of patience, but it helped me develop thick skin and the ability to stay calm under pressure.When I moved to grocery or dairy stocking, the work shifted from standing in one place to much more physical labor. These departments involved heavy lifting and constant movement. I would grab a pallet loaded with cases of products—whether it was canned goods, cereal boxes, and snacks for grocery, or milk jugs, eggs, cheese, and yogurt for dairy—using either a regular manual pallet jack or the electric one. Then I’d carefully maneuver it through the crowded aisles to the right section. Once there, the real work began: I had to check the shelves for empty spots, rotate stock so the oldest products were in front (following the FIFO rule—first in, first out), and neatly fill in the gaps from the pallet. It was repetitive but demanding, especially when the pallets were overloaded or when I had to lift heavy cases above my head to reach the top shelves.Dairy/receiving was particularly intense because it often involved unloading entire trucks. I’d climb onto the electric pallet jack, carefully drive it into the refrigerated trailer, and pull out pallet after pallet of cold products while trying not to let anything shift or fall. The temperature inside those trucks could be freezing, so layering clothes was essential, but even then my fingers would go numb after a while. On the flip side, working in the main store during summer meant dealing with the opposite extreme—sweating through my shirt while stocking shelves under bright fluorescent lights with the air conditioning struggling to keep up.The courtesy clerk assignments were some of the most unpredictable parts of the job. Whenever the shopping baskets or carts started running low in the store, associates like me would get pulled from whatever we were doing to go outside and gather more. We had to push long lines of carts or carry stacks of baskets back inside, often without any motorized equipment to help. This might sound simple, but it could turn into a real workout, especially when the parking lot was packed. Many times I found myself doing this in harsh weather conditions: pouring rain or thunderstorms that left me completely soaked, freezing ice or sleet that made the pavement slippery and dangerous, or blistering summer heat where the blacktop felt like it was melting under my shoes. There were days when the wind was so strong it would push the carts sideways, or when sudden storms would force me to sprint to get everything under cover before lightning got too close.Despite the physical demands and sometimes unpleasant conditions, working at Kroger during high school gave me a strong sense of responsibility and teamwork. I learned how to communicate with coworkers, prioritize tasks when the store got chaotic, and take pride in keeping the shelves full and the store running smoothly. There were frustrating moments—like dealing with difficult customers or managers who expected perfection during the busiest hours—but there were also rewarding ones, such as when a regular customer remembered my name or when the team pulled together to finish a big truck unload ahead of schedule.Overall, that job was far more than just a paycheck. It built my work ethic, improved my physical stamina, and taught me how to handle real-world pressure. The variety of tasks kept things from getting too monotonous, even if some days felt endless. Looking back, I’m grateful for the experience because it prepared me for future jobs by showing me what consistent effort and adaptability really look like in a fast-paced retail environment.For my main high school job, I worked at Kroger as a cashier when I first started. It was my introduction to the real working world, and I quickly learned that retail life was nothing like the easy shifts I had imagined. Over time, I got the opportunity to work in several other positions around the store, including online order pickup, grocery/stocking, dairy/receiving—where I mainly operated the electric pallet jack while unloading trucks—and basic courtesy clerk assignments. Each role came with its own challenges, but they all taught me valuable lessons about hard work, time management, and dealing with the public.As a cashier, I had to stand for eight or more hours at a time with only short breaks. My feet would ache by the end of the shift, especially during busy weekends or holiday rushes when the lines never seemed to end. The job required constant focus: scanning items quickly and accurately, handling price adjustments on the spot, performing basic math for coupons or discounts, and learning proper customer service etiquette. I had to stay polite and professional even when customers were rude, impatient, or trying to argue over a few cents. Some days felt like a nonstop test of patience, but it helped me develop thick skin and the ability to stay calm under pressure.When I moved to grocery or dairy stocking, the work shifted from standing in one place to much more physical labor. These departments involved heavy lifting and constant movement. I would grab a pallet loaded with cases of products—whether it was canned goods, cereal boxes, and snacks for grocery, or milk jugs, eggs, cheese, and yogurt for dairy—using either a regular manual pallet jack or the electric one. Then I’d carefully maneuver it through the crowded aisles to the right section. Once there, the real work began: I had to check the shelves for empty spots, rotate stock so the oldest products were in front (following the FIFO rule—first in, first out), and neatly fill in the gaps from the pallet. It was repetitive but demanding, especially when the pallets were overloaded or when I had to lift heavy cases above my head to reach the top shelves.Dairy/receiving was particularly intense because it often involved unloading entire trucks. I’d climb onto the electric pallet jack, carefully drive it into the refrigerated trailer, and pull out pallet after pallet of cold products while trying not to let anything shift or fall. The temperature inside those trucks could be freezing, so layering clothes was essential, but even then my fingers would go numb after a while. On the flip side, working in the main store during summer meant dealing with the opposite extreme—sweating through my shirt while stocking shelves under bright fluorescent lights with the air conditioning struggling to keep up.The courtesy clerk assignments were some of the most unpredictable parts of the job. Whenever the shopping baskets or carts started running low in the store, associates like me would get pulled from whatever we were doing to go outside and gather more. We had to push long lines of carts or carry stacks of baskets back inside, often without any motorized equipment to help. This might sound simple, but it could turn into a real workout, especially when the parking lot was packed. Many times I found myself doing this in harsh weather conditions: pouring rain or thunderstorms that left me completely soaked, freezing ice or sleet that made the pavement slippery and dangerous, or blistering summer heat where the blacktop felt like it was melting under my shoes. There were days when the wind was so strong it would push the carts sideways, or when sudden storms would force me to sprint to get everything under cover before lightning got too close.Despite the physical demands and sometimes unpleasant conditions, working at Kroger during high school gave me a strong sense of responsibility and teamwork. I learned how to communicate with coworkers, prioritize tasks when the store got chaotic, and take pride in keeping the shelves full and the store running smoothly. There were frustrating moments—like dealing with difficult customers or managers who expected perfection during the busiest hours—but there were also rewarding ones, such as when a regular customer remembered my name or when the team pulled together to finish a big truck unload ahead of schedule.Overall, that job was far more than just a paycheck. It built my work ethic, improved my physical stamina, and taught me how to handle real-world pressure. The variety of tasks kept things from getting too monotonous, even if some days felt endless. Looking back, I’m grateful for the experience because it prepared me for future jobs by showing me what consistent effort and adaptability really look like in a fast-paced retail environment.

• Assisted customers with product inquiries and store navigation.
• Stocked shelves and organized merchandise to enhance product visibility.
• Processed transactions accurately at the cash register.

Not really a formal employed job, but various times throughout high school my dad would let me come up to the Nissan dealership shop and help out for some extra cash. It was an informal arrangement that worked well for both of us. I got spending money without the hassle of filling out paperwork, and the shop got an extra set of hands when things got busy. The dealership service department was always buzzing with activity, with mechanics working on everything from routine oil changes to more complex repairs on the latest Nissan models.Most of the time I handled cleaning and janitorial work around the bays. That meant sweeping up metal shavings, spilled fluids, and dirt that seemed to accumulate endlessly on the concrete floors. I’d wipe down workbenches, organize scattered tools, empty overflowing trash bins filled with old rags and packaging, and hose down the service areas when they got especially greasy or muddy. Keeping the workspace clean wasn’t glamorous, but it helped prevent slips and made the mechanics’ jobs easier and safer. One of the more physical tasks was loading used tires onto the tall metal racks. These racks were located outside the shop right by the dumpster, so I’d have to roll the heavy tires across the lot, sometimes through puddles or over uneven pavement. Many of them were large truck or SUV tires that had been pulled off customer vehicles, making them bulky and awkward to handle. On hot days the rubber would stick to my hands, and in colder weather they’d be freezing and sometimes coated with slush or road salt. Stacking them two or three high without letting them topple over required careful balance and a good amount of strength.Once or twice I got called over to help when someone needed extra assistance. That could mean carrying a new set of tires inside, or quickly fetching a part from the back room. Those moments gave me a small taste of the teamwork that kept the shop running smoothly.I also spent time at their on-site car wash washing tires. Using a pressure washer, I’d spray off thick layers of brake dust, road grime, and mud, then scrub the wheels with brushes and special cleaners before giving them a thorough rinse. Some tires came in absolutely caked with dirt from off-road use or long highway drives, and it took real effort to make them look clean again. I’d often end up soaked from head to toe, especially when the wind picked up or during colder months.Even though it wasn’t a regular job with a schedule or benefits, those days at the Nissan dealership shop taught me the value of hard work, attention to detail, and pitching in wherever needed. It gave me extra money, quality time around my dad, and a real appreciation for the manual labor that keeps a busy service department operating day after day.

• Supported sales team in preparing vehicles for display and customer demonstrations.
• Coordinated service appointments and managed customer follow-up communications.