Diamond Bar High School Students Take a "Bite of Reality"

A group of high school students from the Pathways Communication Academy at Diamond Bar High School got a “bite of reality” recently when they attended an interactive financial education simulation designed to teach them how to manage money.
The April 15 event at the Diamond Bar Center was run by staff from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, all of whom volunteered their time. Also volunteering were staff from Wescom Credit Union. The program is offered by the Richard Myles Johnson (RMJ) Foundation, the state foundation for credit unions in California and Nevada.
The event aims to teach young people the basics of finance by having them take a “real world” test drive complete with a job, money and the freedom to make their own financial decisions.
The roughly 96 students were given a fictional occupation, salary, spouse and family, student loan debt, credit card debt, and medical insurance payments. They then visited various stations to “purchase” items such as housing, transportation, food, clothing, household necessities, and daycare. They battled their way past pushy salesmen, unexpected expenses and windfalls, and expensive tastes to learn how to budget and make wise financial choices. Those staffing the “credit union” station provided assistance when some overspent.
For the teens, the event was as much fun as it was eye-opening.
“I had a chance to see how life will be like after graduation,” said Brianna Jacobson-Penman, 16, of Beaumont. “It’s terrifying. This is teaching us good lessons so we’ll be somewhat prepared.”
Her friends Alexis Chavira, 15, of Chino and Kayla Hull, 16, of Diamond Bar agreed.
“I learned how much stress my parents go through,” Alexis said.
“I now know why we don’t go out as much,” Kayla added.
Though 15-year-old Devin Duran of Walnut, admitted one of the hardest part was writing checks, he enjoyed the program.
“It’s really cool experiencing how to deal with life,” he said.
Kelly Avery, 15, of Walnut was doing pretty well in handling his money until he got to the Kid Care table. Kelly—along with Daniel Blake, 15, of Pomona and Mario Juarez, 15, of Diamond Bar— was shocked at the cost of diapers, formula, and clothing. Still he liked the reality “bite” he received.
“It makes you think about life and your future,” Kelly said.
That taste of reality is exactly what Tena Lozano, executive director of the RMJ Foundation, hopes young people take away from the Bite of Reality program.
“Giving students this opportunity to experience making financial decisions in a low-risk setting gives them a better understanding of the challenges of adulthood,” she said. “The hope is they walk away with lessons now that often takes adults years to learn—the hard way.”
That hands-on experience is what Pathways Communication Academy teacher Eleanor Boruah likes about the program. “In the classroom the students get lessons on check register and writing a check, but to actually feel like they’re purchasing products is a mind-opener for them, and mind-boggling. It’s a great program.”

Photo captions:
SchoolsFirst FCU Loan Processor Violet Bocanegra helps navigate (L-R) Kayla Hull of Diamond Bar, Brianna Jacobson-Penman of Beaumont, and Alexis Chavira of Chino through their options at the “Bite of Reality Mall” table during an interactive financial education simulation held at the Diamond Bar Center April 15.

SchoolsFirst FCU Internal Service Specialist Jason Sotelo reacts to the surprise of (L-R) Daniel Blake of Pomona, Mario Juarez of Diamond Bar, and Kelly Avery of Walnut as they realized how expensive “grandma child care”.