Lynn teen digs his job

LYNN – The site of kids trudging through the snow, with their shovels slung over their backs, looking to do a little service for money, was at one time as American as a Norman Rockwell painting.But this is the 21st century, and Andre Gaudet of Clark Circle has refined the painting somewhat.Seven years ago, when he was 10, he went around his neighborhood with his own printed advertising, offering to shovel snow and mow lawns. Three of the neighboring families took him up on the offer, and as a result, he is in the clear minority as one who applauds the miserable weather during last three weeks.?It (the ad) was my father?s idea,” said Gaudet, 17, who is a three-sport athlete (golf, hockey and baseball) at Lynn Classical. “He suggested that it might be a good idea to do this as a way to make some money.”These days, Gaudet is doing rather well. He made about $700 last winter, and stands to do even better this year.?People,” he said, “are very generous to me. And that makes me want to do a good job all the more – because of their generosity.”Initially, Gaudet said he just wanted to be of help to some of the neighbors on the cul-de-sac who are senior citizens.?I just figured it was the right thing to do,” he said, “to help out my neighbors. I was a lot younger, and I just felt it was a good way to help out.”The job has grown on him.?I like doing it,” he said. “It?s rewarding, both because I?m helping out, but also because I?m making some money.”Over the course of his snow-shoveling business, the patterns have shifted a little. As recently as three years ago, the area was rewarded with a virtually snowless, and unusually warm, winter. And while that may have set well with most everybody else, Gaudet felt the pinch.?That year I made a lot less,” he said. “I think I did half of what I?ve been doing lately. I think it?s because the snow picked up, but I also think that people are even more generous.”He may be a junior in high school, but he?s not without a bit of “little kid” in him when it comes to snow.?I always look forward to this,” he said, “It?s good to get out. It?s good exercise going out there and flinging snow. It?s exciting.”And as he?s in the middle of a high-school hockey season, playing for the Lynn Jets, the exercise helps keep him in shape. And it will help him this spring, too, when he hopes to resume playing first base for the Rams, he said.He has a routine, especially when the snow piles up the way it?s been doing lately.?I go out for my first run in the morning (accompanied by his country/western tunes), and do a run through,” he said. “Then I go inside, get some food, watch some TV, and wait until the snow builds up again. Then I got out there some more. When I?m all done with the other houses, I do our house.”Gaudet, whose sister, Danielle, is a freshman at Boston College, lives with his mother, Diane, and father, Ron. He has found that there are times when he wonders why he decided to make this such a big part of his life.?Of course I have,” he said. “There are always a few times, when the temperature?s in the single digits, where you kind of second-guess yourself about what you?re doing. But you go inside, get a drink of water, and you go back out there like nothing happened.”