Recession with Teens- The Hardships
By Miranda R. Melvin

Imagine yourself at the age of 18, and having to get up really early to go into your part time job during the summer. It is the only source of income you have, that pays for the car you drive, the food you eat, and the entertainment you do after work. After hastily making it to work, you get prepared to start off your day, when your manager comes up to you and announces that they need to cut a few employees, and unfortunately, you were one of them.

Getting laid off of a job is a common thing with teenagers all over the United States. It’s a terrible thing, which was caused by the lacking of a good economy, that has been once again, introduced to our society. People are getting frustrated with the lack of money, and how the things they were once able to buy is no longer available. Teenagers have to be dependent on having jobs, especially college bound teenagers. Living in a downfall economy can lead up to a rough time further on in their life. This is the effects of the recession, and teenagers all over the United States are being affected in more ways than one! Many don’t take this as a serious matter, simply because teenagers between the age of 17- 21 aren’t seen as adults. They are simply undermined; adults think they should be the ones having to work, not their children. However, with the struggles with money, teenagers are being affected by the recession with college cost, not able to buy food, and remaining immobile at their house because they can’t afford gas.
     
Being a senior in high school, and working a part time job, I know how it feels to need money for things such as gasoline, cell phone bills, and of course, the latest clothing styles. However, with the economy the way it is, and the cost of things, I find it hard to save enough money to help me get through this rough time. Teenagers all over are having a hard time keeping enough money to last them for the month, let alone for college! College students aren’t able to pay for college, and have to take out more loans. Students in high school are finding it harder to drive to and from school every day, and budgets are cutting it close.
          
The recession with the economy isn’t just affecting the teens, but their parents too. Adults have more pressure on them, getting a good paying job, and helping their children make it through school, giving them every thing they can possibly need. If their parents don’t have a good job, they might not be able to afford a school lunch a day or two. Or on a Saturday night, instead of going to a party with their friends, they have to go work, because they are in need of money.
        
Unemployment is happening everywhere; even in the Miami County. It is sad to see people with out jobs, and having to borrow so much money to pay off a rent, or bill, when before they were doing just fine. Teenagers are affected by this, because they have to grow up in these conditions. Nowadays, it is frowned upon if a teenager has a job over a 35 year old adult. Many see it that teenagers are “lucky” to have a paying job. Regardless if they are 18 years old, or 35 years old, you still have to rely on money to get you some where in life. Adults want teenagers to learn the hard ways of earning your money; it’s just unfortunate that our economy is going through a down fall, and there are no jobs left to work at. As a side note to that too, the age for getting a job has been “unofficially” raised. Before, it was easy for a 16 year old to get a job at a retail store. In 2009, teens have to be 18 years old. This wasn’t an official change, because it is not in work guidelines. But with the recession, fewer jobs are willing to have 16 year olds work for them, when there could be adults taking the place. In the fast food industry, the jobs were filled by teenagers as a part time job. Recently, the industry is employing adults, who are unable to get a job.
          
There is really no simply way to stop the horrible economy that we are having. It’s especially hard for those who aren’t able to make such a huge impact just yet. However, teenagers are being placed between a rock and a hard place with the recession.  Being in high school is supposed to be fun, and enjoying the last year of every thing being simple. But with the recent recession in the states, it’s hard to enjoy anything simply when teenagers have so much put on them.

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