Local ninth graders were taught some highly valuable lessons for the future last week, as the Brookhaven Junior Auxiliary staged its fifth annual Reality World.

In the program, held at the Lincoln Civic Center, teens were taken through the process of using their “monthly income” to cover basic needs, such as groceries, an automobile, insurance, housing, phone, cable/internet and electricity/utilities.

At tables throughout the civic center, representatives of area businesses and service providers were on hand to guide and instruct the teens.

A “monthly income” was provided to the students based on pay comparable to that of their teachers. The amount varied, however, based on the students’ grade point averages. Those with an A average received $1,908, and a B average netted $1,654. Meanwhile those with a C average were allowed $1,208, and students with a D or F average received $954.

Varying the salaries based on grades reinforced the importance of getting an education, working hard and doing good work.

Each student’s salary was filled in on a checkbook, which was handed out to them to take to each station and deduct expenses as they were made.

Students should have left the civic center with a new appreciation for their parents and what it takes to make a living. “I think it’s a real eye-opener to see what it costs to live just comfortably,” said the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce’s Kay Burton, who was among the volunteers at the event.

The JA, the local businesses and service providers and all the volunteers are to be commended for putting on this life-changing and life-building program each year.

Now let’s just hope those ninth graders take those lessons to heart as they complete their education and eventually move on to join our work force.