Ahead of the holiday recess, William Floyd High School’s “Real Estate Reality” class welcomed three real estate professionals as guest speakers: Ed Shine, a broker and owner of Shine Realty; Stephanie Salvo, an agent at Shine Realty; and Theresa Wright, a mortgage specialist for Nationwide.
This trio of industry experts shared their journeys and countless insights into their careers, offering students a look at all the possibilities a career in real estate may hold.
Taught by William Floyd High School business teacher Ms. Lee Cillo, a licensed realtor, “Real Estate Reality” is a half-credit elective course available to junior and senior year students. Its goal is to equip students with foundational knowledge about real estate terminology, how to understand concepts and trends, and what is required to explore future professional opportunities within the wide world of real estate.
Before graduation, students begin to seek college and career counsel. Learning about real estate at this time lends them ample time to process the cost of living across different geographic regions long-term, and additional logistics that play into their greater decision-making. Math, ethics and contracts are all a part of the equation.
Students were encouraged to ask questions in an open forum environment that spotlit licensed professionals and their eager-for-information younger counterparts.
Salvo brought her young daughter along as well. She shared what motivated her to choose a career in real estate over other exciting paths.
Possessing a flexible schedule as she does enabled her to juggle professional and personal obligations without a hitch. This resonated with students uncertain about the intricacies of balancing family and work life prior.
“Having a forum where the students are able to hear from full-time real estate professionals holds a lot of weight with them,” said Ms. Cillo. “Real estate is a fascinating industry and one that can be lucrative with some hard work. It's not out of their reach and now they have people to add to their network if they choose to build on this in the future.”
Adds William Floyd High School senior A’Jiah Broughton: “I enrolled in the real estate class as an opportunity to grow my knowledge in the real estate field. I felt the guest speakers were very informative as they ended up opening my eyes to a pathway I had not considered. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet and speak with them.”
“The guest speakers significantly enhanced the educational experience for our real estate students,” said Jackie Giacalone, chairperson of William Floyd High School's business department.
“Their expertise and willingness to share personal experiences provided invaluable insights into the industry. We look forward to continuing this initiative and inviting more professionals to inspire and educate our students in the future.”