I think having any sort of past that gives you perspective on your work is valuable. I spent 5 months working in a kitchen in my teens and that lit a fire under my ass to get better grades and get into University. I then spent 8 months co-op at a government organization and that lit another fire under me that a cozy government desk job would turn my brain into mush, so I needed to strive for more than something cozy.

6 years into my programming career and I still think regularly about those jobs any time I feel annoyed by the assorted issues/people I have to deal with. It gives me perspective that I'm really not working... I'm being given money to have fun learning and doing cool stuff.