Being able to successfully balance a monthly budget may not seem difficult to many adults, but financial and other issues can often occur when high school students do not have the basic understanding of responsible finances prior to living on their own.

Last year, Stanly Community College Business Administration Program Head Lorie Narolewski started helping juniors and seniors at Albemarle High School understand the benefits of learning and practicing life skills before they graduate from high school.

The program, which is part of SCC’s Career and College Promise (CCP) offerings, gained popularity at area high schools and 16 students throughout Stanly County completed five courses to earn certificates from SCC in May 2023.

This year, Narolewski and SCC instructor Sam Spencer taught subject matter that included: College Student Success, Introduction to Business, Budgeting, Communication, Critical Thinking, Business Law, Marketing, and Building and Protecting Your Credit Score.

“Students feel more confident going into the workforce because of the life skills they obtain in the program,” said Narolewski.

“I enjoy giving students a glimpse of what college or living on their own can be like. Every young person needs every advantage to start out on a solid footing and this program does  just that,” she added.

Students earning certificates this semester included:

• Albemarle High School: Titiana Blair, Jeydan Browne, Marian Garcia Hernandez, Akala Garrett, Ramyaa Johnson, Emily Lanier, Charles Lindsey, Graylin Olivieri, Caylan Phouangphrachanh, Tyiqueese Rankin, Kennedy Rhone, Kaiyana Spencer, Jaitlyn Steele, Madison Swaringen and Jennifer Torres.

• North Stanly High School: Avery Morris; and

• West Stanly High School: Emma Lee.

For more information about the program, contact Steve Cumming, 704-991-0139 or scumming0450@stanly.edu or Shawna Loftis, 704-991-0293 or sloftis0221@stanly.edu.