HOUSTON—
Understanding your credit is key when it comes to buying a home, car or anything else. But having poor credit can also hurt you. Some Houston high schools are getting a jump start on what it means to have proper credit.With so many people in debt nowadays, those 39 News spoke with say it's "critical" high school students need to understand what credit means. As 39 News found out, 17 and 18-year-old students are learning valuable lessons that will last a lifetime.
Most people use credit cards instead of cash. Whether at the store or paying that college tuition, credit cards are everywhere. Students at Ross Sterling High School are learning about the proper use of credit.
"A component of our curriculum is banking, and we help them to understand; have a relationship with a bank," said Bernard Johnson, who's the executive director of Immanuel Educational Services, Inc., which is a non-profit organization. Johnson and his staff have a program called The Reach In-Project. They travel to different high schools in Houston to educate students in subjects like maintaining good credit.
"A lot of people get in trouble after high school (with) a lot of credit offers going to college," Johnson said.
"Credit is trust and it also follows you your whole life," said Deondre Coleman, a junior at Ross Sterling High. "So something following you your whole life, you wouldn't want to mess that up or anything."
Most of the teenagers, who participate in The Reach In-Project lessons, learned that if you get a credit card it's not wise to use it on anything.
"(For example on) materialistic things such as clothes or cars or whatever. Instead of using it for things you need, like, such as books," said Tevyne Price, who's a senior.
The main reason why students focus on credit is simple:
"They're going to be easy prey for these consumers who want to give them credit cards and things like that," said Sterling High School principal Lynda Wright.
"It's our generation preparing the next generation," said Johnson. "It's what we're supposed to be doing."
When it comes to establishing credit, students at Ross Sterling High have also learned:
"The importance of budgeting your money; protecting your credit and paying your bills on time,'"said Jabari Stevenson, a junior at Ross Sterling.
"I would like to use my credit on starting a business," said senior Xavier Lightscy.
"I did rack up a lot of debt, and I do not wish this upon any of my students - any of my kids. And that's the reason why I'm just so grateful that The Reach In-Project is here in order to avoid this type of pitfall," said Wright.
The Reach In-Project was founded in 2006 by Johnson.
