A group of girls looking to better themselves spent all day Monday at Victoria’s Delights learning valuable life skills that will allow them to someday become responsible adults.
The popular downtown Oxford eatery closed for the day so young ladies from Crossroads for Youth could participate in ‘The Blue Line to Success,? an interactive program developed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Community Affairs Department in 1998.
‘I really believe in what Crossroads does,? said owner Victoria Connolly. ‘We owe it to our youth to give them chances. They haven’t had a lot of the advantages that maybe you and I have had.?
The girls spent most of the day talking about self-esteem, confidence and how to achieve goals by ‘being prepared? and having ‘well thought out? plans, explained Shelley DuFort, community affairs representative for Blue Cross Blue Shield.
How to dress appropriately and present yourself during a job interview was discussed along with developing resum’s and writing cover letters.
‘All of the things they would need to know if they were trying to get a job,? DuFort said.
The girls got to take a trip through the ‘Reality Store? to learn about making life choices and the consequences of those choices.
Each girl was given a ficticious job, monthly salary, checkbook and family life (married or single, kids, etc.).
They then visited 14 stations around the restaurant which reflected different situations and expenses in the real world.
The girls had to make choices concerning housing, child care, health and auto insurance, buying a car, clothes, groceries, cable TV, cell phones, travel, entertainment, savings and investments.
DuFort said it’s definitely an ‘eye-opening? exercise for the girls ‘especially when they come to the child care station and see how much that costs.?
One station called the ‘Reality Check? can be a positive or negative experience for the girls depending on the luck of the draw.
From getting in a bad car accident or losing your job to earning a raise or winning the lottery, the Reality Check is designed to teach the girls that ‘unpredictable things are bound to occur no matter how much we plan.?
‘Savings and health insurance are the best hedges against most real life reality checks,? according to the poster at that station.
DuFort explained, ‘The goal is to get to the end of the month and have a little bit of money leftover, but not so much that you haven’t lived and taken care of yourself adequately.?
Not only does this program give the girls ‘an idea of what their parents go through,? DuFort said it gives them ‘a view of what to expect as they go out into the world on their own.?
Connolly was happy to provide the young ladies with a variety of healthy choices for lunch, plus the opportunity to dine out, relax in a social setting and practice restaurant etiquette.
‘Whatever I can do to make this a more memorable experience, I’m glad to help,? she said.
Blue Cross Blue Shield picked up 50 percent of the tab for the day, while Victoria’s Delights donated the other half.