Problems with strings

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Test {
        static Scanner userInput = new Scanner(System.in);

        public static void main(String[] args){
                System.out.println("Until the number hits 10, you can choose yes or no. If you choose yes, it will continue, if no, it will stop.");
                int t = 1;
                String y = "Y";
                String n = "N";
                while (t < 10 & y.equalsIgnoreCase("y")){
                        System.out.print("The number is: ");
                        System.out.println(t + ". Continue? y/n");
                        y = userInput.nextLine();
                        t++;
                        if (userInput != y & n != "n"){
                            System.out.println("Please insert a valid answer.");
                        }
                    }

                if (t == 10){
                    System.out.println("It got to 10.");
                }

                if (n.equalsIgnoreCase("n") & t != 10){
                    System.out.println("You decided to not continue.");
                }
        }
}