October 22, 2002) — As the bell rings, students pour out of their classrooms into the hallways and rush to their buses to go home. Though for many students the day is halfway through, for junior Alek Bartrousaf, the work is only beginning. Instead of going home like most people his age, he heads to Subway where he works three times a week. His job consists of making Subway sandwiches for customers for a pay of $6.75 per hour. “I think working is something that every high school student should experience. It’s not easy, but in the end when you get your paycheck it’s all worth it,” he said. Like Bartrousaf, many students are taking bold steps into the career world. They’re devoting their time and energy to work late hours during the school week and on weekends. In a study done by the U.S. Department of Labor, between 1994-2000 an average of 61% of U.S. teens between the ages of 16-19 were in the work force. Students say they join the work force to gain a sense of responsibility, work experience and independence. Senior Aaron Keshishian works five days a week on weekdays and from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends campaigning for Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Glendale). According to Keshishian, a person can be expected to make $8-$15 per hour. “I work to gain some responsibility and provide for myself,” commented Keshishian, “so that I don’t have to depend on parents for cell phone and car insurance payments.” Students continuously juggle their schedules to work out a routine that is convenient and that won’t interfere with schoolwork. Some students work weekdays, while others, such as junior Kristine Olegario, work only weekends. Olegario works at the cash register at McDonald’s in Glendale for a maximum of six hours on weekends starting at minimum wage. She added that she prefers to work during weekends since working during weekdays will come between her and her schoolwork. While it is difficult to make time for school and a job at the same time, these dedicated teens do their best to make the extra money. But what do these hard-working teens do with their hard earned cash? Most find a balance between saving and spending their money on themselves. Students usually save some of the money they make and may spend the rest. Junior Michael Lyons, a basketball and soccer referee at the YMCA, said he is using his money to buy a car. Others, such as senior Marina Giwargias, who works as a bear builder at Build-A-Bear Workshop in the Glendale Galleria, spends her money on cell phone bills and clothes. Some students work for the challenge and a sense of responsibility, while others use it to get involved. However, senior Michelle Mackerdichian works because she enjoys what she does. She works on Saturdays, giving piano lessons to children ten years old and younger. Mackerdichian commented that she wasn’t doing the job for the money, but that it was just something she loved to do. According to Dereghishian, it’s always better to choose a profession that you’re interested in because you could actually enjoy working.