As soon as I turned sixteen, I got my first job working for a grocery store chain. I started out bagging groceries and worked through nearly every department as I graduated from high school and then put myself through college, working for the same company as a cashier. It was a great job for a student--flexible hours, relatively low stress, on-the-job training, etc. It also provided the opportunity for a shy young girl to learn to look people in the eye, provide customer service, problem solve, explore my talents and grow within the business. Nearly every co-worker I had was either single and providing for themselves or were working there to supply a needed second income for their family. We all knew that if you wanted to provide for an entire family, you would need to pursue a management track and become a career employee of the company. There were plenty of opportunities to do so if you were willing to work hard, learn the business and commit to the company. By the time I graduated f...