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Kingston and Madill High School students got a Reality Check on February 13. The OSU Extension Office held the event to assist students in adapting into being an adult by giving them virtual jobs and families and challenging them to budget for a month. Shalene White • The Madill Record
Students from Kingston and Madill had a chance to see what it is like in the real world. On February 13, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension held an event that simulates being a 25-year-old adult for one month.
Sara Randolph, Interim CED and Extension Educator at the OSU Extension Office said this is the first year for the event in Marshall County, and was born out of seeing it be successful in another area.
“After seeing Reality Check promoted in another county, a group of enthusiastic volunteers, community, agencies, and local businesses came together to form a committee so that Reality Check could be held in Marshall County.”
Randolph said the event sets up the students with a virtual career, and possible family.
The goals of the Reality Check are to give the students a look into what the future might hold for them, to help them become aware of basic skills needed as an adult, such as; financial planning, goal setting, decision making and career planning.
Students learn how to budget for housing, car payments, insurance, child care, utilities and other monthly bills. The virtual adults were assigned random jobs, marital status and possible children. They used this information to decide on housing and vehicles. There was a wheel of life that sometimes gave out tax refunds.
Madill Public School Board Pres ident Mike Mathis said it was a fun event for students and volunteers alike.
“It was neat watching the students,” he said, “one student over spent and had to redo his budget.”
Randolph said she hopes the event catches on like wildfire and it becomes an annual event. For any businesses or individuals interested in hopping on next year’s volunteer train, call the OSU Extension office at 580-795-3563, or email sara.randolph@ okstate.edu.