MdCV 8th-grade and sophomore students had the opportunity to step out of the traditional classroom and into the real world of budgeting, careers, and financial decision-making during Reality U at Waverly.
Reality U is an interactive financial literacy experience that gives students a glimpse into what life might look like as an adult. Students are provided an individualized scenario that includes things such as a career, income, debt, family circumstances, and other financial responsibilities. They then visit stations representing real-life expenses—including housing, transportation, groceries, insurance, utilities, childcare, healthcare, and more.
The goal sounds pretty simple: make your paycheck last until the end of the month! As our students quickly discovered, that can be easier said than done.
Experiences like Reality U help students understand the connection between the decisions they make now and the opportunities they may have later. Education, career choices, debt, saving, and everyday spending decisions all play a role. It is one thing to talk about a monthly budget in class; it is another thing entirely to have to decide whether you can actually afford the car, house, and lifestyle you want.
We want to extend a special thank you to USD #243 Lebo-Waverly for hosting our 8th graders and sophomores and inviting MdCV to participate. We also greatly appreciate USD #243 Counselor Janella Newton for the time and work she put into coordinating the event.
Finally, thank you to all of the volunteers who gave their time to make Reality U possible. Having adults from our surrounding communities work directly with students at each station makes the experience much more meaningful and realistic.
We are proud of our MdCV students for representing our school well and taking advantage of another opportunity to learn beyond the walls of the classroom.
Thank you, USD #243, Mrs. Newton, and all of the volunteers for investing in our kids and providing them with such a valuable experience!