Summer Jobs: Going From Bad to Worse

“Whistle while you work . . . .”

Although a carefree summer vacation might be preferable, some teen-agers will be answering the work whistle as soon as the school bells stop ringing.

Prestigious summer jobs are few and far between, so most teens will find themselves doing work they would not want to make a career of. Hot Topics wonders, “What’s the worst summer job you could have?”

“Picking up trash at 5 in the morning at the beach.”

Beth Acosta, 17,

senior, Huntington Beach

“Working at a fast-food restaurant.”

Kristian Denna, 15,

freshman, Laguna Hills

“Working in the strawberry fields.”

Cris Guzman, 16,

sophomore, Western

“Delivering newspapers.”

Cuong Ly, 16,

junior, Ocean View

“Cleaning the scum off tires.”

Daniel Deaton, 18,

senior, Liberty Christian

“I don’t want to work at some sort of cheesy fast-food place flipping burgers.”

Bill Johnson, 17,

junior, Fullerton

“At Wild Rivers, especially if you’re not 16, because you can’t work the rides.”

Jennifer Eliason, 15,

sophomore, Laguna Hills

“Being a tutor.”

Tuan Ho, 16,

junior, Ocean View

“Any job would be the worst, because summer should be spent at the beach having fun.”

Danika Pictor, 16,

sophomore, Western

“Laying down manure on a hot summer day when the wind is blowing.”

Byron Sam, 16,

sophomore, Western

“Washing dishes.”

Elleni Maureas, 15,

freshman, Huntington Beach

“Working at an amusement park on a new ride. Everyone would be having fun and you’d be dying in the heat, only earning minimum wage.”

Kim Townsend, 16,

junior, Western

“The poster boy for K mart.”

Joe To, 16,

junior, Ocean View

“Being one of those bathroom cleaners at McDonald’s.”

Michelle Kurlawalla, 15,

freshman, Laguna Hills

“No fast-food places or amusement parks, especially amusement parks with little kids bothering me.”

Chris Ceballos, 15,

sophomore, Fullerton

“Street paver.”

Matt Coltrin, 17,

senior, Huntington Beach

“The person who scrapes the dead animals off the streets. The heat of the summer would make the smell really bad.”

David Chieng, 17,

junior, Ocean View

“Working here” at school.

Robert Bruce, 17,

junior, Liberty Christian

“Waitress or something in a restaurant, where it is hot.”

Christy Westad, 15,

sophomore, Laguna Hills

“Retail.”

Alison Bonnet, 18,

senior, Huntington Beach

“Working at any fast-food place.”

Tracy Nickens, 16,

sophomore, Western

“Being an Avon lady.”

Phillip Le, 16,

junior, Ocean View

“Having a paper route.”

Chris Carrothers, 16,

sophomore, Liberty Christian

“Working at a fast-food place.”

Su Pak, 17,

junior, Huntington Beach

“Working at Denny’s.”

Robert Smith, 16,

sophomore, Liberty Christian

“Odd jobs, mainly ones outside, where it’s hot.”

Michelle Sonsini, 15,

freshman, Laguna Hills

“I don’t want to work at Wienerschnitzel.CQ”

Cesi Mercado, 17,

junior, Fullerton

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

If you could have any supernatural power, which would you choose? Why?

Responses gathered by Colleen Cruz (Fullerton), Jane Wey (Huntington Beach), Megan Kenney (Laguna Hills), Tom Prendergast (Liberty Christian), Felice Wu (Ocean View) and Heather Orey (Western).