I was the youngest of five children having been born on January 17, 1928. My family had very little money and my allowance during elementary school was one penny a day. At ten years of age, it became clear if I wanted a few cents in my pocket, I needed an afterschool job. My first job was Thursday afternoon delivering the Hoffman butcher’s chicken to customers in Middle Village for which I would be given a tip earning a total of one dollar. Thereafter I always had a variety of after school jobs and during the summer as well. When I was 16 and 17 years old, I had two summer jobs working as a busboy and waiter in an exclusive summer resort called Totem Lodge located near Albany, New York. I earned $1,000.00 each summer totaling $2,000. When I was 17 years old I had decided to become a lawyer and unlike some who become reluctant to their first choice, I never changed. Lawyer to be was it.
When I was admitted to Brooklyn Law School, it was for three years and the cost was $600.00 a year. I had never spent the $2,000 I had earned at Totem Lodge and it covered my full tuition and cost of books.
Suffice it to say, the Totem Lodge summer job was the best one I had. Not only did it pay for my law school tuition, I end up a lawyer which I practiced for 50 years and fully enjoyed.
It is to be noted, laziness pays for nothing.
Ben Haber
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