Students Take a "Bite of Reality" by Julia Nunez - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events

Students Take a "Bite of Reality"

By Julia Nunez, Community Writer
April 6, 2017 at 09:41am. Views: 85

SAN BERNARDINO>> Ninth-graders from various San Bernardino High Schools recently got a “bite of reality” when they attended an interactive financial education simulation designed to teach them how to manage money. The March 23 Bite of Reality event held at California State University, San Bernardino was run by staff from San Bernardino-based Thinkwise Credit Union, who all volunteered their time for the event. The students are part of GearUp, also known as Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, a U.S. Department of Education program which provides federal funding for state and partnership grants to help increase the number of low-income middle and high school students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. The Bite of Reality program is offered by the Richard Myles Johnson Foundation, the state foundation for credit unions in California and Nevada. At the start, each student — via an app on cell phones or tablets — received a persona complete with occupation, salary, spouse and family, student loan debt, credit card debt, and medical insurance payments. After they learned what their monthly income was, they went shopping, “purchasing” items such as housing, transportation, food, clothing, household necessities, and daycare. 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. Throughout the event, they dealt with pushy salespeople who were played by Thinkwise CU employees and GearUp program staff. When some overspent, those staffing the "credit union" station provided much-needed assistance. “I have $150 left,” said Arroyo Valley High School student Lizbeth Cruz, 14, to her friend, Cindy Alvarez, also 14. Both were at the Groceries and Dining table when Lizbeth’s app showed she had been hit by the “Fickle Finger of Fate” and an unexpected expense. All of a sudden, she was down to just $15. She fell to the floor in disbelief and laughter. Fortunately, a trip to the credit union helped make the situation better so she could afford groceries. Arroyo Valley High School student Hoyuky Martinez, 15, was surprised by how much money she could spend. She learned she needed to be wise in spending, especially in light of the pushy salesmen. “They keep trying to get me to spend more. And it’s killing me because it’s so tempting,” she said. Cajon High School student Jose Trejo, 14, found the event to be a wake-up call. “It gives you an idea of real life, and how to manage your money in order to survive in society,” Trejo said. This taste of reality is exactly what RMJ Foundation Executive Director Tena Lozano hopes young people take away from the Bite of Reality program. “We want the Bite of Reality program to provide a no-risk environment in which kids can learn the consequences of various financial options out there—such as whether to buy a luxury car or a small sedan— so that when faced with these situations as adults, they can make good choices,” Lozano said. Thinkwise CU CEO Kevin Posey agrees: “The Bite of Reality program is such a wonderful and unique learning opportunity for students. The simulation challenges students to make real life decisions that adults make every day. At the GearUp event, I had several students who came to me already knowing which pushy salespeople had oversold them. The opportunity to share such teachable moments is what makes the Bite of Reality simulation so valuable. We look forward to delivering this experience to more students in our community.”

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 876

Athlete of the Week Christopher Michael Lemos, Redlands High School Junior and Varsity Quarterback, proudly represents the Terriers with his dedication, leadership, and passion for the game.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1661

Redlands Pottery Project joins A.K. Smiley Public Library for a November 14 workshop designed for young artists ages 13 to 18. A lump of clay may not look like much at first. In the hands of a young artist, however, it can become a bowl, a decorative sculpture or an entirely unexpected creation.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.redlands.edu/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 2850

The University of Redlands Department of Theatre and Dance will present Día de los Muertos and Other Folk Tales November 5 through 8, 2026. Stories told by grandparents often become treasured parts of a family's history. Some are humorous, others mysterious, and many carry lessons that remain meaningful long after the storyteller is gone.

Photo Courtesy of: UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 944

A remote wildfire-monitoring camera overlooks a Southern California landscape. Redlands has partnered with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia program to improve monitoring of areas near northern Redlands and the Santa Ana River wash.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.akspl.org/events/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1900

Annual ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will bring American history to life on November 21. On a November morning in Redlands, the sounds of fifes, drums and historic artillery will offer residents an opportunity to experience a chapter of American history that continues to influence the nation more than 160 years after the Civil War.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:18pm. Views: 835

The first years of a child's life are filled with milestones that families often remember forever. A baby's first smile, the first attempt to crawl and the first spoken words are moments of celebration. They can also bring questions, uncertainty and new responsibilities for parents learning how to care for a growing child.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.csusb.edu/

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 1042

CSUSB’s Department of Physics and Astronomy has earned recognition for it for its work to create a more inclusive, diverse and supportive physics department, earning the Bronze Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science Physics & Astronomy SEA Change program.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.naco.org/program/operation-green-light-veterans

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 2269

Operation Green Light returns November 4–11, encouraging residents to recognize military service and help veterans connect with available resources. As darkness settles over San Bernardino during the first week of November, green lights will illuminate several county buildings, transforming familiar government facilities into visible reminders of the sacrifices made by America's military veterans.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.authentikusa.com/

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 974

As America's most famous highway celebrates its centennial in 2026, San Bernardino reflects on the road that helped shape its neighborhoods, businesses and identity. Long before interstate highways became the preferred routes for cross-country travel, motorists making their way through San Bernardino followed a road that would become one of the most recognizable highways in American history.

Photo Courtesy of: Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 756

Muscoy Elementary students join SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, Board of Education President Mayra Ceballos, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Sandra Rodriguez and Dr. Tasha Doizan, Director MaryRone Goodwin and San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. for the official ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the school’s new outdoor learning center.

Photo Courtesy of: https://riversiderecord.org/; A photo of Moreno Valley City Hall. (Alicia Ramirez/The Riverside Record) Credit: (Photo by Alicia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 1041

A city is often judged by what residents experience every day: the condition of its streets, the reliability of public services, the availability of recreational programs and the ease of obtaining information from local government. Behind those everyday experiences are departments and employees whose work rarely attracts national attention.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 934

Athlete of the Week Zachary Scott Perez, Senior at John W. North High School, is recognized as Athlete of the Week for his dedication and accomplishments as a student athlete.

--> -->