Hartford Union High School Focus on Connections Event



History:	The Reality Store concept was first developed nationally in 1992 and has since been adapted and improved to include financial literacy standards and career developmental skills. The business and Information Technology Department at Hartford Union High School saw this as a great way to tie together the curriculum from the Focus on Careers course into a culminating activity for juniors. To bring this concept to the Hartford community, the event was named "Focus on Connections" to allow students to "focus" on their future while "connecting" with their local business community.
Purpose:	To help all students learn basic skills in financial planning, goal setting, decision making and career planning To clarify the need for young adults to examine their attitudes about their futures and their career expectations
	Representatives from the housing industry, utilities, grocery stores, department stores, financial institutions, insurance, auto dealerships, medical professions, child care centers, travel and entertainment industries will be present to help students determine the amount of income will need to be spent in each category in order to provide them with their desired lifestyle. The goal of the experience to to help students learn whether their selected career will provide the financial resources needed to provide the type of lifestyle they want.
Preparation:	Prior to participating in the focus on Connections event, HUHS juniors project 10 years into the future and select a career in whichd they are interested. This career is research and analyzed in the realted Focus on Careers class. Based on Washington County economics and statistics, salaries for each of these careers is determined. Students are randomly assigned a "life status" which includes marital status, spous salary, number of children, and pets. In addition, depending upon the type and length of education required for a chosen career, students are given a monthly loan payment.