High school is a confusing time, a purgatory between childhood and adulthood. Growing up, the idea of being an independent human being can be both liberating and terrifying at the same time. But wherever the road leads after high school, chances are the majority of high school students will end up having to manage finances on their own. Just how prepared will our high school graduates be for the financial burdens of the real world? They’re more prepared than you think.

Out of the of the ten SHS students questioned about Boston’s average monthly expenses, seven of them were within a couple hundred dollars of jumpshell.com’s $1,462 figure. According to jumpshell.com, everything in Boston is about 28% more expensive than the national average. 45% of Bostonians are considered “cost burdened”, or spending more than 30% of their income on rent.

In addition, out of 92 cities ranked by Forbes, Boston was named the third most overpriced.

However, junior Aidan McDaid had some fighting words for Forbes’ word choice, saying, “I was aware that it was expensive, but I disagree that it’s overpriced because it’s a very populated area and a very popular area, with the added benefit of living near the water.”

Junior Kyle Thomas stated that, “[Financial skills] could definitely be incorporated into more of the math curriculum”. Kyle makes a fair point, addressing the fact that the classes that should have the most real world applications have the least. Math is everywhere, yet course requirements like Algebra II focus more on complicated hypothetical mathematical equations than real world financial situations.

It is these exact reasons that Scituate, along with many other public schools around the country, have started to implement project based learning curriculums. Thirty-five teachers were already trained at Gates in project based learning last year and they hope that this philosophy will trickle up to the high school in the near future. The goal is to engage students in their learning experience, simulating “real world” experiences by having kids learn from their projects, rather than learning to do the project itself.

On the other end of the spectrum, junior Grace Strong said in response, “If you know to take the business electives they [teach practical skills] but a lot of kids don’t know about them.” The business classes are definitely available at SHS with 19 different classes offered from accounting to social media marketing, with CP and Honors level placements as well. Although they may be optional, the business program certainly is extremely diverse and has been proven successful at business competitions such as DECA.

There is also a B.A.S.E. (Business Association for Student Entrepreneurs) created this past year by business wolves Mike Pitten and Max Meiselman for those business minded students who possibly couldn’t cram a business class in their schedules.

Their slogan proudly declares that they plan to, “Change the way High School does business”, and in just its first year have had speakers like local legend Don Nelson came to SHS to inspire our future businessmen and women.

Scituate High school leads students to the proverbial water of knowledge, but it can’t make them drink it. Take charge of your education, own it, and seek out new opportunities because you’ll (hopefully) only experience high school once.