"My Parents are Happy. I'm Making Money"

Edward McGregor, 17, Bath

I live in a boring little village outside Bath. When I was growing up there was nothing to do but knocking on doors and running away. Now I work most of the time and go to college. I flip burgers at Schwartz Burgers in Bath; it's better than being a kitchen porter.

I'm studying music technology. I don't play an instrument – it's more like DJ-ing and producing on a computer. Obviously the idea would be to be famous but it's not realistic. Maybe I'd like to work in a studio or start my own label or maybe even do some teaching.

When I'm not working I go to mates' houses or go out in town and go clubbing. The clubs in Bath are not very good but there are a few of them. We put on a couple of nights outside college, running a night in Bristol recently and one in Bath. When I finish school I think I want to take a year out and then probably eventually go to uni.

I guess I don't do much in the house for my parents because I'm not really there; I go to college at 9am and end up getting back at 1.30 in the morning. If they ask me to do something I'll do it for them but it might take a bit of persuasion. We argue about me keeping my room tidy, and making sure I actually go to college. I can be a bit lazy, and if I've worked late sometimes I miss my first lesson. My parents are happy I'm making money but annoyed that I work so late.

It's not hard to get a job – people are a bit too picky. You can get a job if you've got a CV and you make it look good. It's just getting off your arse and getting one. I suppose higher-paid jobs are harder to get, I'm on £4.50 an hour, I work hard so I should get a pay-rise soon. My mate's 19 and was manager at Domino's Pizza and had a BMW – he was all set. It can be done quite easily, you don't have to be academic.