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Reality Check - On My Own

Norma Pettyjohn helps Amanda
Waters, an eighth grader from Holladay, select her groceries for the
month at the Reality Check--On My Own held on April 22 at Camden Jr.
High
Eighth Graders Prepare for a Reality Check
On Wednesday, April 29, approximately
200 8th grade math students from Camden, Big Sandy and
Holladay schools will be subjected to the cold hard facts of life
when they participate in a reality check sponsored by Benton County
Business & Professional Women (BPW) and UT Extension Agency (UT).
The two groups are gearing up for the eighth year of the program,
which gives students a good dose of what life is like in the real
world—how some jobs pay well, and some don’t; how bills have to be
paid and children fed and clothed, whether one has a lot of money or
a little..
The goals of the program are (1) to
help students learn basic skills in financial planning, decision
making and career planning; (2) to clarify the need for young men
and women to examine their attitudes about their futures and career
expectations; and (3) to motivate students to stay in school, stay
away from drugs and avoid teen pregnancy. Because eighth graders
are mandated by the State of Tennessee to choose a career path,
Benton Co. BPW felt this was a good opportunity for the students to
learn about the results of their choices. They had successfully
conducted the Reality Store for six years. Heather Deckard,
Consumer Sciences Extension Agent, travels to the eighth grade
classrooms and facilitates lesson plans on the fundamentals that the
students will use in day-to-day living. These include matching
careers and personalities, preparing lifestyle goals and salary
goals; family matters and shopping, banking and how to use a
checkbook and the effects of credit. Heather presents these classes
in a sequential manner over several months. A storefront simulation
is the climax of the classes where the students can put to test what
they have learned. Heather will then return to the classroom after
the simulation to follow-up with the students. Heather approached
the BPW members in 2008 and the two groups agreed that it was to
logical to combine their efforts to achieve the most benefits for
the students. . Last year they launched the progam called “Reality
Check—On My Own” with slight variations from the way the program had
been previously conducted+. These changes were favorably received
and the program will continue this year.
Prior to the simulation, the students
will choose a career and determine whether they are married and how
many children, if any, they have. The will then visit various
storefronts where they must choose and write checks for housing,
transportation, insurance, food, utilities, childcare, pay taxes and
other normal monthly expenditures. They are then subjected to a
“curve ball”, where they must pay for or reap the rewards of life’s
unexpected curves. They learn just how far their dollars can go.
Reality Check – On My Own, which will
run from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will require the cooperation of
dozens of people. Chairperson, Laurie Pierce admits that their
Organization could not have pulled off this huge endeavor the past
seven years without the tremendous support of the community. Once
again, she is depending on the generosity of our great citizens and
businesses. Laurie further says, “You can help in three ways: (1)
donate money – your contribution of $50 or more will make you and
your business a sponsor and receive recognition; (2) become a
volunteer – approximately 50 volunteers are needed to help staff the
storefronts the students will visit; and (3) provide promotional
items—the students will receive goody bags upon completion of this
program. Advertise your business with products that can be inserted
in the bags. We are asking those who have participated before to
join the fun again. It doesn’t matter if you have children or not,
it will be very rewarding. We’re asking for business owners,
parents, grandparents, anyone who can donate a little time. Their
participation will not go unrecognized.”
All who have participated in this
event in the past have been extremely impressed. The students and
faculty recognize the benefits of learning about life experiences at
an early age. The volunteers and sponsors considered it rewarding
to work with the students in helping to make decisions. We hope
that you will consider becoming a part of this fun and gratifying
event. Anyone interested in learning about the program, helping to
man a booth, or becoming a sponsor is invited to contact chairperson
Laurie Pierce, at 584-2909.
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