I now make $30 an hour because I am a well-known fine artist. I have shown internationally, have one show coming up in Los Angeles and another in Chicago. I literally draw for a living, and my life is a dream.

Now - I earned that too, but I earned it by having a job that allowed me to eat while I studied and worked my tail off in another arena. Personally, I think there is merit to our society by having work that allows artists and musicians to hone their crafts on the side.

I should also say, working as a server is not exactly an un-skilled position. There's a reason there are few teens doing it at higher levels - depending on where you work, necessary knowledge of food, multi-tasking skills, quick-math skills, understanding of wine and pairings etc, is required. Diners - yes, fairly unskilled labor. However, Michelin restaurants and good restaurants in NYC - it's very much a skillset. You can't just become a server at Per Se like you could walk into a target and get a job at the register.