I worked at an injection molding plant for 2 hours or so. I was 19 or so and at that time wasn't really in school and needed money. This plant hired me at something like $25/hr, which was a lot of money to a broke college kid. (This was around 2000 I'd guess). Anyway, during the interview process, they told me that I'd be working swing shifts - 6am-6pm 3 days, then off 4 days, then 3 days 6pm-6am. Right off the bat I knew that would screw with my college schedule, and this place wasn't willing to budge. But, I planned on doing it for a few months, saving some money and then getting back into school full-time.

So, my first day, I start at 6am and they put me up on this catwalk. The injection molding machines are like the size of a room. On top of the machine is this huge hopper where they dump the plastic pellets. Around that hopper, was this catwalk - basically these forklifts would dump the plastic up there, but some of it would dump on this surrounding catwalk rather than the hopper. So, they sent me up there with a broom, to sweep all this plastic back into the hopper. I get up there and it is HOT! The whole building was hot, but the machines are basically a massive oven, and I'm standing on this walkway 25' above it. I was forced to wear a hairnet and goggles, and because I had a little scruff in my face, a beard net. My goggles kept fogging up and I honest to God thought I was going to pass out. I'm in great shape, but the heat was incredible. I was only a couple of hours into my shift, but I couldn't take it - I needed a break, and to get a drink badly. After a while, I notice this factory is fairly quiet and most of the coworkers are gone. A few minutes later and they're back. I asked one of them what time we would take break and he yelled up to me that they just took break. I missed it, and lunch was at noon. (like 3-4 hours later). I was pissed, sweaty, thirsty and tired - and it was like 8am.

I looked across the factory and saw the glowing red of the Exit sign. I felt like a caged animal, I swear - I've never wanted to get out of anything so badly. Immediately, I climbed down and ran - not walked, but ran, full sprint to my car. Before I got home, they were calling my cell, asking why I ran out and pleading me to come back. I told them sorry, but no - that was not for me. Never looked back.