Cierra Dougherty and Karl Daniels play banker in a career fair at St. Ignatius High School.
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ST. IGNATIUS – When the “real world” arrives, it might hit hard.
“It was like a slap in the face when you had to give 30 percent of your $500 to taxes,” junior Amanda Andres said as she worked through career day at St. Ignatius High School last week.
The event required students to undergo an elaborate replication of what their first years of post-grad life will likely entail, including tough choices about career paths and needs versus wants.
Students filled out a job application prior to the event. The application was scored and students then underwent a mock job interview that was also evaluated. From there, participants lined up for a one-on-one background check, where administrators had done a rudimentary scan of the web to see what dirt they could find on the applicants.
“We’re doing the background check to point out to them that if you have any tacky stuff out there on your Facebook or on the web, you are going to lose jobs and not get scholarships,” teacher Terry Cable said.
Extra points were given to students who brought resumes, listed special skills, or had a prior work history. The grand total of points was translated into a high, middle, or low paying job that was assigned.
Students then entered the high school gymnasium where they visited “banker” students Cierra Dougherty and Karl Daniels. A few looked on wide-eyed as the scant amount of monopoly money was doled out, while others beamed at higher salaries. For those with lower income Daniels suggested visiting the college booth.
Real-life advisors from Salish Kootenai College and other institutions gave students an idea of how much they could increase their starting salary if they obtained a degree. Armed-forces representatives and vocational-technical schools also were on hand to give summary of what life and pay might be like.
Students were then allowed to visit the bank again if they needed a college loan. Sales representatives from local businesses that sell cell phones, health insurance, real estate, and cars were on hand to explain the costs. Students could take up to one roommate to reduce living costs, could choose a ramen-noodle, inexpensive meal plan, or a more expensive luxury steak option.
“They have to see if they can afford a house or car, and decided whether or not to pay that money,” Cable said.
Incidental costs were figured into the exercise. A beanbag toss determined a credit score, and random draw from a box of plastic Easter eggs determined whether or not a life event robbed even more from the household coffers.
If costs got too high, students could sign up for a second part-time job.
There were also seminars on why graduation matters.
At the end of the day junior Steven Bravo said the experience was eye-opening.
“It was good to see what everything costs and how life really is,” Bravo said.
