HOPE, AR – Hope High School students are learning important life skills through a life simulation called “Get Real!” The program helps high school students understand the importance of budgeting, writing checks, understanding credit and loans, various educational and career opportunities after graduation and more. Hope High Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teacher Nora Cummings explained, “Students first learn how to write checks and are introduced to the simulation. Then, they get hands-on experience.”

On Tuesday, March 14, the simulation took place in the High School Annex building with Hope Schools employees, Cooperative Extension workers, and community volunteers working at one of twelve booths. During the simulation, students visited each of the various stations spread around the large room. Each stop focused on a particular aspect of life experience. Stations included transportation (where students learned about the cost of vehicle ownership and financing), nutrition (where students had to make choices between more expensive healthy eating and less expensive alternatives), connectivity (cell phones and wi-fi, for example), and nine other stations.

University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Financial Program Associate Megan Wells says, “The simulation emphasizes living within your means. Each student is randomly assigned a family size, career, and income.” The students were required to visit all twelve of the stations, unless their “family” does not include children, in which case the student(s) may skip the Childcare portion.

Terrie James, Cooperative Extension Agency Chair for Hempstead County, explained that after the simulation, “We meet with students and ask them ‘How did you feel?’ and ‘What are your plans now?’” After taking part in the simulation and the discussions, some students may change their minds regarding career choices, post-secondary education options, and whether or not they want to get married and have children.

For more information about the simulation and/or student participation, please contact:

Nora Cummings, FACS Teacher, Hope High / Michele Lloyd, FACS Teacher, Hope High
Noraann.cummings@hpsdistrict.org / Michele.Lloyd@hpsdistrict.org

Terrie James, Terrie James, Cooperative Extension Agency Chair for Hempstead County
tjames@uada.edu