Teens Teach Financial Literacy During Lunch Breaks

Local high school students are turning the tables and becoming the teachers once the lunch bell rings.

The financial literacy workshops allow the students to share tips about how teens should handle money.

While most San Marcos High School students grab a bite to eat during lunch, one classroom on campus fills up.

Tuesday’s workshop was about college and the amount of money it costs.

“Can I get anyone to guess how much a year you’ll make if you drop out of high school?” asked Jessie Lindsey to the group of about 30 students.

Lindsey, 17, and her group from the Entrepreneurship Academy use what they learn in class to teach their peers.

“The classes we take are really important to us and we feel like this is knowledge that everyone should know,” she said.

“(It) gives us a chance to be a teacher, instead of just being a student all the time,” said Cesar Becerra, a high school junior.

Many of the teens in the workshop have just a year or two left in high school and listened intently to the presentation on higher education.

“You needs pros and cons in everything because every good things is going to come with a deficit in this world,” said Davis Schell, another high school junior in the class.

Some of the teens worry about how they will pay for college but said it is good to think about it now.

“Money is the big issue. But that’s why classes like this, teaching us how to save, is really wonderful,” said Jacob Meier, a student in the Entrepreneurship Academy.

The presentation group said they want their classmates aware of what’s out there after graduation.

“There are other options instead of just going to college. It’s not the next step, it’s an opportunity,” said Adam Manchester, 17, a junior in the class.

A second group of students will present their topic of budgeting and credit cards on Thursday. Any student at the high school can attend.