GHS juniors experience real-world simulation

Graham High School juniors took part in a real-world experience Thursday inside the GHS gym. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension hosted the “Welcome to the Real World!” program where students were students made adult financial decisions in a simulation setting with the purpose of learning how decisions made today can impact the future.

Students start the program by filling out a lifestyle survey. They are told to pretend they are 25 years old, unmarried with no children and have completed the basic educational requirements for their chosen occupation. Inside the simulation, students receive no financial help from family or friends.

“From a teacher and volunteer standpoint, it’s always been a successful program, it’s considered to be beneficial,” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent Penny Berend said. “It really gives the students an opportunity to see that there are expenses involved with being an adult, and they’re able to really calculate whether or not they’re able to make ends meet and how, as an adult, oftentimes, we’re thrown distractions or unexpected things that come our way, such as a flat tire and new tires or, you know, a baby that was unexpected, and having to calculate, and being able to best prepare for them and their families in the future.”

Questions on the lifestyle survey cover topics such as where they would like to live, what type of home would they want, the vehicle they would drive, a choice between three grocery budgets, and entertainment options. Following the survey, students fill out an expenditure worksheet. The worksheet begins with the student’s gross salary and subtracts taxes to find their net pay. Students are required to open a savings account before subtracting a potential student loan payment.

For the full story, see the Saturday, April 23 edition of The Graham Leader.