The weekend is here, and what a long week it's been. It's time to kick back and chill out. That's how things used to be for Bronx teenagers.

These days, however, weekends are no longer the same. With high unemployment and a bad economy, many teens are having to work part-time to help their families pay the bills. These teens carry the weight of school, homework, after school errands and work.

"Unemployment has a tremendous effect on teenagers," said Deidre Polow, a guidance counselor at DeWitt Clinton High School. "Not only are [families'] problems financial, but physical as well. Unemployment in families causes stress, which can also result in fatigue, anxiety, and even depression."

Brandon Vasquez, a senior at Clinton, has experienced unemployment in his family.

"It was always difficult for my father to find a job, and he is still struggling. This summer, I had to work to help out with money, and it was a difficult responsibility," said Brandon, who spent last summer working as a lifeguard.

In the Bronx, the unemployment rate is at more than 13 percent, according to the Department of Labor. In 2006, it was just 5.5 percent.

Jasmine Ortiz, a 19-year-old Hostos student, has also been affected.

"The high rate of unemployment also at one point took a toll on my life at home," she said. "After witnessing how uptight and stressed it made my dad, I felt I had to look for a job. When

I was hired at Target, I used most of my money to help with bills and try to provide for myself. It was a load of responsibility."

Jasmine added that she used some of her earnings to buy clothes for her brothers.

Elizabeth Colon is a youth worker at Phipps Houses, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing and other services to low-income Bronx residents. She's witnessed the hardship of unemployment and what it does to the teenagers in our community.

"Being a resident of the South Bronx, I have witnessed many families lose their jobs and therefore placing some pressure and responsibility on their teens or older children," Colon wrote in an e-mail. "I have seen teens become very "creative" on how they help provide assistance to their household. I've also seen teens drop out of school to find minimum-wage paying jobs."

Unemployment in the family, then, can push teens to steal, or even sell drugs.

Colon added: "Unemployment affects everyone in the household because responsibilities have to be met; paying the bills, purchasing food and clothing is stressful especially when there is no income coming into the household."