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Teens Learn Reality Lesson

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: April 1, 2009

WESLEY CHAPEL - Seniors at Wesley Chapel High School got some practice Tuesday in living within a budget, along with help from local business and community leaders.

As part of an exercise known as the Reality Store, students started with a job title and salary, then learned how to spend wisely by visiting information booths dealing with housing, automobiles, travel, banking and taxes.

"We just want to give students a realistic idea of what expenses they'll have when they graduate high school and college, when they get a job," said Jennifer Larimore, the career specialist at the school. "We want them to know what they can expect."

The Reality Store is an annual event that is a required activity for every senior. The exercise ran for the entire school day and followed up on lessons on budgeting and practical decision-making the students have been learning throughout the year.

For some students, Tuesday's exercise offered a leg up on achieving their goals after graduation.

"I want to learn how to budget my money, so I can pay for everything I'll need," said Alexis Putnoky, 18, who was a firefighter on Tuesday, earning $26,000 a year. She wants to go into business after college.

There to help were Elayne Bassinger, vice president of Heritage Bank of Florida, and Georgia Jacobelli, manager of Heritage's Wesley Chapel office. They talked to Putnoky about maintaining checking and savings accounts.

"An activity like this really opens the kids' eyes," Bassinger said. "It gives them a better appreciation of what their parents go through to make a living."

Frank Miller, a human resources expert from Wesley Chapel, taught students about figuring living expenses, finding and interviewing for jobs and budgeting.

Miller advised Putnoky not to quit a job until she had another one lined up and to eat lunch at Burger King instead of a pricey coffee shop. He also referred her to some Web sites that list local job openings.

"This Reality Store is make-believe, but it's also a learning experience," he said.

Putnoky also learned how to figure out her taxes, bought a house and insurance, booked a weekend trip to Orlando and bought and financed a car.

Of course, along with learning how to spend money, there was also the realization that there's never enough of it.

"I learned that your money won't go as far as you think it would," said 18-year-old Amber Ranson.

Keyword: Reality Store, for more photos

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