--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first job I got when I was in high…" description: "\"The first job I got when I was in high school was working for a department store in New York. I worked in the stockroom. That's when I learned that I c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/frankie-knuckles-25176_department_the-first-job-i-got-when-i-was-in-high-s_57931.jpg" --- # The first job I got when I was in high school was working… ![“The first job I got when I was in high school was working for a department store in New York. I worked in the stockroom. That's when I learned that I couldn't work for anyone else, because I was spoken to in a way that I wasn't spoken to at home.” quote by Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/frankie-knuckles-25176_department_the-first-job-i-got-when-i-was-in-high-s_57931.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/frankie-knuckles-25176_department_the-first-job-i-got-when-i-was-in-high-s_57931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/frankie-knuckles-25176_department_the-first-job-i-got-when-i-was-in-high-s_57931.jpg) > “The first job I got when I was in high school was working for a department store in New York. I worked in the stockroom. That's when I learned that I couldn't work for anyone else, because I was spoken to in a way that I wasn't spoken to at home.” [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker realized early that workplace treatment can clash with personal dignity, prompting a desire for autonomy. **In simple terms:** Workplace disrespect sparks independence. Key Takeaway Respect matters more than paycheck. Themes Power dynamics Self‑determination Workplace culture Class disparity Personal agency Mood defiant reflective motivated Type personal anecdote career insight social commentary When to use this quote - First job experience - Retail environment - Youth employment - Family‑work contrast Key Concepts Respect Authority Independence Social hierarchy Practical Applications - Entrepreneurship - Advocacy for fair labor practices Questions to Reflect On - What environments can you maintain dignity without compromising goals? - How does early workplace treatment shape future leadership style? A Different Perspective Some argue that learning to navigate hierarchical structures is essential for career growth, but the quote emphasizes personal dignity over adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Couldn Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-work-255983/) [Department](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/department/) [Department stores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/department-stores/) [First job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-job/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-working-534156/) [Stockroom Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stockroom-learned-799242/) [Stores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stores/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Work Spoken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-spoken-799243/) [Worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worked/) [Worked Stockroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worked-stockroom-799241/) ## Related quotes > [My work has spoken for itself, and I've been offered work purely on merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandira-bedi/my-work-has-spoken-for-itself-and-i-ve-been-offered-work-purely-on/) [Mandira Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandira-bedi/) > [I was always made to work at a very early age. I finished school at 4 P.M. and by 5 P.M. I was working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-gubay/i-was-always-made-to-work-at-a-very-early-age-i-finished-school-at-4/) [Albert Gubay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-gubay/) > [When I was in school, working as a team was called cheating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/when-i-was-in-school-working-as-a-team-was-called-cheating/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [I always went to school, and when I was working, I had tutoring every day. I still had a childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-hyland/i-always-went-to-school-and-when-i-was-working-i-had-tutoring-every/) [Sarah Hyland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-hyland/) > [I did all sorts of jobs after drama school - working in a bar, as a teaching assistant. I probably learned as much from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-did-all-sorts-of-jobs-after-drama-school-working-in-a-bar-as-a/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I missed quite a lot of school because I was working from the age of 11.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-vodianova/i-missed-quite-a-lot-of-school-because-i-was-working-from-the-age-of/) [Natalia Vodianova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-vodianova/) > [I don't work a five-day week as a rule, and I've managed to fill that time up. It hasn't been that hard. I volunteer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deidre-hall/i-don-t-work-a-five-day-week-as-a-rule-and-i-ve-managed-to-fill-that/) [Deidre Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deidre-hall/) > [I spent most of high school working on the debate team, probably at some expense to my grades. Being a member of the team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-einhorn/i-spent-most-of-high-school-working-on-the-debate-team-probably-at/) [David Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-einhorn/) > [I was going to school; I was working - at one point, I had two jobs - and I was still trying to train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayna-baszler/i-was-going-to-school-i-was-working-at-one-point-i-had-two-jobs-and-i/) [Shayna Baszler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayna-baszler/) > [I had this idea when I left drama school that if I could do everything, I'd always be working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-had-this-idea-when-i-left-drama-school-that-if-i-could-do/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [We can work together across countries and cultures like never before through the Internet and social media. Everyone can make a difference, whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/we-can-work-together-across-countries-and-cultures-like-never-before/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Going to school and working for good marks, indeed working for very good marks, was a serious business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/going-to-school-and-working-for-good-marks-indeed-working-for-very/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [It's definitely a shock to go from being 15 in high school to working. There's no real cushion there. There's no preparation at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/it-s-definitely-a-shock-to-go-from-being-15-in-high-school-to-working/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [I put myself through school working at Sound Warehouse, rebuilding lawn mowers for my uncle, installing security systems in the summer heat. Not fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-vaughan/i-put-myself-through-school-working-at-sound-warehouse-rebuilding/) [Greg Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-vaughan/) > [Work-do plays, learn your craft, and go to school. Keep working. Nobody is going to give you jobs for going to parties or any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gandolfini/work-do-plays-learn-your-craft-and-go-to-school-keep-working-nobody/) [James Gandolfini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gandolfini/) ## More by Frankie Knuckles > [I am definitely in the right place doing the right thing. These are the rewards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/i-am-definitely-in-the-right-place-doing-the-right-thing-these-are/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [I think dancing is one of the best things anyone can do for themselves. And it doesn't cost anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/i-think-dancing-is-one-of-the-best-things-anyone-can-do-for/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [I'm always looking for just the right song that has something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/i-m-always-looking-for-just-the-right-song-that-has-something-to-say/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [There are two people that probably influenced me more than anybody out of all the artists out here: that's Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/there-are-two-people-that-probably-influenced-me-more-than-anybody/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [I believe it also says that I am a friend to everyone and enemy to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/i-believe-it-also-says-that-i-am-a-friend-to-everyone-and-enemy-to-no/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [The lack of quality dance music and the fact that here in the United States, house music is not seen as anything viable by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/the-lack-of-quality-dance-music-and-the-fact-that-here-in-the-united/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [There is always a point in the party where I wouldn't say I have people in the palm of my hands, but when there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/there-is-always-a-point-in-the-party-where-i-wouldn-t-say-i-have/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [When you create something out of nothing it's the most thrilling thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/when-you-create-something-out-of-nothing-it-s-the-most-thrilling-thing/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [I used to tell myself when I was much younger that I didn't want to wake up one day and be 32 years old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/i-used-to-tell-myself-when-i-was-much-younger-that-i-didn-t-want-to/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [The music is everything to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/the-music-is-everything-to-me/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [ I have worked with a lot of different great people. One of the things my partner, my manager Judy Weinstein, instilled in \[David\] Morales… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/i-have-worked-with-a-lot-of-different-great-people-one-of-the-things/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [I learned to trust women's ears when it comes to hearing music a lot more than other men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/i-learned-to-trust-women-s-ears-when-it-comes-to-hearing-music-a-lot/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [I think women's ears are a lot more sensitive. Men are going to follow whatever appeals to women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/i-think-women-s-ears-are-a-lot-more-sensitive-men-are-going-to-follow/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [The minute you think you're greater than the music, you're finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/the-minute-you-think-you-re-greater-than-the-music-you-re-finished/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) > [House Music isn't black or white. It just is. It feels good & it feels right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-knuckles/house-music-isn-t-black-or-white-it-just-is-it-feels-good-it-feels/) [Frankie Knuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) [Explore all 23 Frankie Knuckles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-knuckles/) ## More Department quotes > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Personal shoppers in big department stores are seriously under-used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-reardon/personal-shoppers-in-big-department-stores-are-seriously-under-used/) [Kate Reardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-reardon/) > [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I prefer department stores. In boutiques, they come up and ask you if you need help. I can't get lost in the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/i-prefer-department-stores-in-boutiques-they-come-up-and-ask-you-if/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [A poet could write volumes about diners, because they're so beautiful. They're brightly lit, with chrome and booths and Naugahyde and great waitresses. Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/a-poet-could-write-volumes-about-diners-because-they-re-so-beautiful/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [The hair department on 'Game of Thrones' is incredible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/the-hair-department-on-game-of-thrones-is-incredible/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [One of the big first computers was called SAGE, which was a missile defense, the first missile-defense computer, which was, like, one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/one-of-the-big-first-computers-was-called-sage-which-was-a-missile/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [Perhaps we have failed as human beings. Perhaps we have embarrassed ourselves to the natural world. We have been rigorous and willful in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/perhaps-we-have-failed-as-human-beings-perhaps-we-have-embarrassed/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [Every name in a TV show has to be run by the legal department first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-bellman/every-name-in-a-tv-show-has-to-be-run-by-the-legal-department-first/) [Gina Bellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-bellman/) > [The director makes the movie. The director has to have the story in their head, has to know the style of the piece, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovitz/the-director-makes-the-movie-the-director-has-to-have-the-story-in/) [Jon Lovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovitz/) > [Throughout my career, when I was finished with the drawing for one film I would go up to the story department and help develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-davis/throughout-my-career-when-i-was-finished-with-the-drawing-for-one/) [Marc Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-davis/) > [I was invited to join the MGM cartoon department. But if I'd started work in animation I'd have had to take a cut in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-was-invited-to-join-the-mgm-cartoon-department-but-if-i-d-started/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Trust God for the impossible-miracles are His department. Our job is to do our best, letting the Lord do the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/trust-god-for-the-impossible-miracles-are-his-department-our-job-is/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Browse all 1,212 Department quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/department/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first job I got when I was in high school was working for a department store in New York. I worked in the stockroom. 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