how about putting together a realistic budget for after they graduate? go tour some apartments and ask them to pick one they could see themselves living in. build a budget around the rent for that place, estimated utilities, going out with friends, etc. also add the monthly loan payment for the art school they want to go to. then compare that against typical monthly take-home pay for someone in their desired field and start cutting things until they can break even. $30-40k annual income can sound like a lot to a high school student until you start breaking it down month by month and force them to confront how expensive things are and the lifestyle sacrifices they will have to make.