(May 27, 2010) — “I’ve been looking for a job for six days,” senior Angelina Nilssen said, “but I don’t get a response back from the GYA until June or July.” She applied to the Glendale Youth Alliance, Color Me Mine, and she plans on applying to Pinkberry. “I haven’t heard back from Color Me Mine, because a couple people applied and I don’t know if I fit the age limit.” Getting a job is already difficult due to the bad economy, and age requirements are also preventing many students such as Nilssen from getting hired. Even junior Lilit Galstyan wants to get a job, but with the economy in this turmoil and being only 16 years of age, getting a job is difficult. “I applied to Build-a-Bear, Hollister and Macy’s, but I’m too young or they’re not hiring right now,” Galstyan said. “Most of the stores I tried to apply to said they only hire 17 years [and higher], so I am definitely going to apply when I turn 17,” Galystan said. Many teenagers want part-time jobs over the weekends or during the summer, but the paucity of job openings stops them from earning some extra money to spend with friends. “When I worked in the past, I used to go out a lot, but now I don’t go out as much because I don’t want to use my parents’ money because even they are having a hard time,” said junior Shant Anjelian. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate of teens between the ages 16 to 19 as of March 2010 is 26.1%. Most businesses these days are firing, not hiring, and this comes as bad news to students who are starting out. Unfortunately, many of them are around 16 years of age, making it even harder to get hired. Many teens have been getting hired through the Glendale Youth Alliance (GYA), but with so many students signing up, even the GYA cannot promise students a job. The GYA provides jobs for low-income families, and while some students are looking for jobs to support their family, others are only looking for jobs to gain experience or save some money for college. Nilssen, on the other hand, wants to get a job because she wants independence. “I’m still using my parents’ money, but when I go to college, I want to use my own money,” she said. “I’m just hoping that I get [a] response around June.” Even in hard times like these, many are optimistic. “I do think that things will get better soon and I’m looking forward to getting hired,” said Anjelian. “Everyone is having a hard time and I don’t blame the stores for not hiring me.”