3.19.3
Family Economics & Financial Education
© Family Economics & Financial Education - April 2007 - Life of…Ben West -Page 2
Funded by a grant from Take Charge America, Inc. to the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences Take Charge America Institute at e University of Arizona
Snapshot
Ben West
As Ben daydreams about getting outside and onto his di
rt bike, his attention is quickly brought back as his instructor
describes a major engine repair technique he is familiar with. Ben attends WC Career and Technical Education
Center and will graduate with a certificate as a mechanical and diesel services technician. Ben does not excel in a
regular high school classroom, so he and his family decided to enroll him in WC where he could strengthen his
mechanical skills and immediately enter the workforce upon completion of the program. e CTE Center also
provides a GED preparation course. Ben quickly enrolled in this course to earn a promotion at his current part-time
job.
Ben works part-time for Lou’s Logging Service and spends every minute of free time working to earn money. With a
mechanical and diesel services technician certificate and GED, Ben will earn a promotion to full-time working status
with a pay increase. He enjoys the intense working conditions logging provides and is looking forward to the
opportunity to work more on the large machinery. e extra income from full-time employment also sounds very
appealing. He has a goal of saving $200 each month to purchase a used vehicle. Right now he shares a vehicle with
his mom and is looking forward to having his own transportation. Unfortunately, he often falls short of the $200
because of high dirt bike repair costs and other leisure activities such as snowboarding and taking his girlfriend Maria
on dates. He also wants to be able to buy Maria an engagement ring in a few years, so saving money is a priority for
Ben.
Ben always has one ear listening for the fire whistle. He volunteers as a junior fireman in his community and takes
pr
ide in how fast he can respond to a neighbor in need. He and the other firefighters spend several hours a month
helping with various community events to raise money to purchase upgraded equipment for the fire trucks. Maria
even helped with the last community fish fry and is considering organizing the next event!
James, Ben’s step-dad, is a heavy equipment operator and works 60-70 hours a week. Although Ben feels like his step
-dad does not understand him, because they spend little time together and rarely communicate, they both enjoy
hunting and try to go out as much as possible. James and Ben’s mom have lived together for ten years and were
married a few years ago. Ben has tried to get to know James by asking for help when fixing his dirt bike, but James
thinks he is wasting his time and energy working on such an old bike. James was laid off from his job last year and is
very conscious about spending as much time at work as possible to earn money to provide for his family.
Ben’s mom, Brenda, works part-time for an electric company as a secretary. She would much rather stay at home full
-time with their three year-old daughter, Anna, but feels her family needs the income and enjoys interacting with
other adults. Brenda and Anna love having tea parties and playing dress-up together in the evenings when Ben and
James are working late. She worries about Ben and James constantly because they both work in dangerous
occupations. Brenda enjoys cooking and volunteers during her lunch hour at the community Senior Citizen Center.
She prepares almost all of the family’s meals at home. She is a skilled shopper and is able to prepare many well
Directions:
Di
rections:Directions:
Directions: e following information is a Snapshot on Ben and his family. Read all information carefully to
