Financial education activity provides Santa Maria students with a ‘reality’ check
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Hundreds of Santa Maria High School students were able to experience what it's like to budget personal funds during a financial literacy educational event held on Friday.
About 800 freshman participated in the school's third annual "Reality Fair" that took part throughout the day inside the school's Wilson Gym.
"The event provides an engaging and eye-opening experience where students learn to manage a paycheck, make real-world financial decisions, and navigate adult responsibilites," said Santa Maria High School counselor, Fatima Gonzalez. "For many, it's a thrilling experience that inspires them to dream big while serving as a much-needed reality check about life ahead. This also serves as a reminder to students that it's never too late to improve their high school performance and aim for success."
For four minutes at a time, students visited the seven stations that were categorized in real life financial needs, such as utilities, insurance, food, transportation and entertainment.
"I liked that it was really fun," said student Ryan Rich. "It gave us a gist of what might happen to me in the next couple of years and why we have to pay the expenses we have to have."
Each student used an Excel spreadsheet that was downloaded onto their personal tablet and needed to budget their monthly expenses according to a previously determined fictitious paycheck, which was determined by a student's grade point average from the first semester.
"I liked it, said student Giselle DeLeon. "It really shows budgeting and how much we have to spend andit definitely shows us that we have to be more appreciative when it comes to like the cost of everything, because we're not paying that right now.
Helping out with the event were several professionals from local business, such as SESLOC Credit Union, Santa Maria Kia, PB & Associates Real Estate Services, Kohls, REYCO Insurance Services, as well as Santa Maria High School staff.
