Working hard for a days pay, senior Kyle Solis types vigorously as he stares at the bright computer screen in a dimly lit room. Employed at a place equipped with a bed, food and motherly advice, Solis works at home for Public Auto Sales as his mother’s assistant.

“I love working at home and being able to sit around and work on the computer,” Solis said.

Throughout the beginning of the summer, Solis spent his time at Mexican Inn first as a bus boy then later a chip boy. After being let go, his mother gave him a job. For Solis, the new job offered a nice break from his more demanding job at Mexican Inn.

“At Mexican Inn, the pay wasn’t suiting me at all,” Solis said. ”I was just glad that I was able to find a job afterward.”

Landon Cowan,10, worked at the front gates of Hawaiian Falls, taking tickets and greeting people. Saying ‘hi’ to old and new friends and even acquaintances from school. Occasionally, Cowan says he dealt with some interesting people.

“There were one or two guys that always showed up and acted like they knew me,” Cowan said.

According to the Employment Policies Institute, the past summer was the toughest employment situation for teens since the 1950s. The value of the American dollar decreased along with the state of the economy, and minimum wage rose. In turn, employers are struggling to pay for inexperienced workers.

“Since it was my first job, it felt like a lot of money,” Cowan said. “I wouldn’t get a lot of hours. It was hard to make sure I had enough money for gas and insurance.”

However, not everyone earns money for their work. Freshman Jordan Albert works for the Texas Scaregrounds, a plot of land with three haunted houses in Kennedale. Occasionally collecting tips, employees at the Scaregrounds strictly volunteer. Albert loves scaring people during the Halloween season and setting up the haunted houses during the summer.

“I don’t mind volunteering because I love my job so much,” Albert said. ”You wouldn’t think that haunted houses are open in the summer, but we had a big bash.”

Albert loves his job despite the danger, once a customer punched him in the face when he used the fight, instead of flight method. Albert still never lets anything put him down.

“I am just glad I don’t have to worry very much about money to get around,” Albert said. ”I think I do my job because I love it, not because I need money but for the experience.”