It’s Your LifeIt’s Your Life

Highlights of 1997Highlights of 1997

Hong Kong Hong Kong returned to returned to Chinese rule from Chinese rule from Britain.Britain.

Princess Princess Diana killed Diana killed in car crash.in car crash.

Heaven’s Gate Cult Heaven’s Gate Cult Commits Mass Suicide in Commits Mass Suicide in

CaliforniaCalifornia

DOW JONES DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE HITS AVERAGE HITS 7,000 for the first 7,000 for the first time in history.time in history.

Tony Blair Tony Blair becomes the becomes the Prime Minister Prime Minister of Britain.of Britain.

Mother Teresa Dies in Mother Teresa Dies in CalcuttaCalcutta

Microsoft Becomes Microsoft Becomes World’s Most Valuable World’s Most Valuable

CompanyCompany Value: $261 Value: $261

BillionBillion

Mike Tyson Bites Evander Mike Tyson Bites Evander Holyfield’s Ear OffHolyfield’s Ear Off

Tobacco Companies Settle with Tobacco Companies Settle with States to cover Tobacco States to cover Tobacco

related Health Care Costsrelated Health Care Costs

Tiger Woods Becomes the Tiger Woods Becomes the Youngest Player to Win Youngest Player to Win the Masters at Age 21the Masters at Age 21

Steve Jobs returns to Apple Steve Jobs returns to Apple and makes it one of the largest and makes it one of the largest

companies in the world.companies in the world.

Carlos the Jackal is caught Carlos the Jackal is caught and sentenced to life in and sentenced to life in

prison by French prison by French authorities.authorities.

Avian FluAvian Flu Hong Kong kills all chickens within its Hong Kong kills all chickens within its

territory (1.25 million birds) to get rid of territory (1.25 million birds) to get rid of bird flu that affected humans in 1997.bird flu that affected humans in 1997.

First Harry Potter Book First Harry Potter Book ReleasedReleased

Two most popular movies, Two most popular movies, Titanic and Men in BlackTitanic and Men in Black

Top Musicians: Garth Brooks, Foo Top Musicians: Garth Brooks, Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Mariah Carey, Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Mariah Carey, Smashing Pumpkns, Madonna.Smashing Pumpkns, Madonna.

Top TVS ShowsTop TVS Shows

What big news stories What big news stories have occurred so far have occurred so far

this year?this year?

Brazilian Night Club Brazilian Night Club FireFire

Boston Marathon Boston Marathon BombingBombing

Aaron Hernandez – Aaron Hernandez – Killer Off-SeasonKiller Off-Season

Resignation Of Resignation Of Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI

PRISMPRISM

Syrian Civil WarSyrian Civil War

Ryan BraunRyan Braun

Obama-CareObama-Care

Trayvon Martin / Trayvon Martin / George ZimmermanGeorge Zimmerman

Compare the Following:Compare the Following:

All the statistics that follow are All the statistics that follow are averages or medians for the year averages or medians for the year

1997 and 2012 to give you an idea 1997 and 2012 to give you an idea how the value of things have how the value of things have changed in the past 16 years.changed in the past 16 years.

Household IncomeHousehold Income

19971997

MedianMedian

$37,004$37,004

20122012

MedianMedian

$50,502$50,502

Minimum WageMinimum Wage

19971997

$5.15$5.15

20122012

$7.25$7.25

Life ExpectancyLife Expectancy

19971997

Men ~ 72.2 YearsMen ~ 72.2 Years

Women ~ 79.0Women ~ 79.0

YearsYears

20122012

Men ~ 76 YearsMen ~ 76 Years

Women ~ 81 Women ~ 81 YearsYears

Cost of a HomeCost of a Home

19971997

MedianMedian

$124,100$124,100

20122012

MedianMedian

$211,000$211,000

Cost of a New CarCost of a New Car

19971997

AverageAverage

$16,900$16,900

20122012

AverageAverage

$30,500$30,500

Gasoline per Gasoline per GallonGallon

19971997

National AverageNational Average

$1.22$1.22

20122012

National AverageNational Average

$3.61$3.61

Movie TicketMovie Ticket

19971997

National AverageNational Average

$4.59$4.59

20122012

National AverageNational Average

$8.38$8.38

Cost of CollegeCost of College These numbers These numbers

include the cost of include the cost of tuition, books, fees, tuition, books, fees, housing, personal housing, personal living expenses at the living expenses at the University of University of Wisconsin-Madison.Wisconsin-Madison.

Cost of CollegeCost of College

19971997

UW-MadisonUW-Madison

$11,000$11,000

20122012

UW-MadisonUW-Madison

$24,221$24,221

How is life different today for How is life different today for a high school student in a high school student in

2013 than for a high school 2013 than for a high school student in 1997?student in 1997?

Do you know what you want toDo you know what you want to

be when you grow up? What?be when you grow up? What?

What type of degree or education What type of degree or education

is required for you to be that?is required for you to be that?

What are your options What are your options after High School?after High School?

How do you pay for college?How do you pay for college?

Identify Life MilestonesIdentify Life Milestones

One theme that I find from year to One theme that I find from year to year is the frustration students have year is the frustration students have with what they perceive as their lack with what they perceive as their lack of control over their lives and the of control over their lives and the direction they are headed. They direction they are headed. They don’t believe they have as many don’t believe they have as many choices I believe they do.choices I believe they do.