Sounds like you're very early in your study of the language, perhaps its best if you just dont use other classes for this simple problem. You can still make it with plain arrays

The problem asks him to store a name, sales, total compensation, and make use of an array or an array list. Unless the professor intended him to use 3 separate arrays then the assignment is geared towards teaching him incapsulations within object oriented paradigm. He needs to have at the very least a class to hold he above three values.

I agree but he doesnt even know how to use classes, surely if the exercise required the use of classes he would know how to use them

Curious indeed.

I thought I knew how to use classes I think I am just confusing myself. I've worked with databases so I know how to create classes and sub classes. It's just a little different with programming. Couldn't I just also create different classes in the project itself?

Just having one of those moments. The class is only five weeks long and it is a lot of information to try and process in five weeks. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :). But I plan on practicing in my spare time to get it down.