Agrilife, BHS host Welcome to the Real World Program

Stephens County Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Agent Sumer Russell, in partnership with Breckenridge High School and sponsored by InterBank, provided a “Welcome to the Real World” program to Junior and Senior class students Monday, May 9.

“Welcome to the Real World” program is designed to teach high school students the skills needed to financially navigate the adult world. The program consists of a real-world, expenditure decision-making opportunities.

In the simulation, students assume they have completed basic education requirements for their chosen career, are single, 25 years of age, and independent, with no financial support from their family or others. Youth participants make lifestyle and spending choices like those faced by adults, such as taxes, student loan payments, housing, utilities, and others.

The event was sponsored by InterBank. Volunteers from Interbank were Luke Grider, Carrol Kanady, Kristy Mackey, Molly Kinsley, and Johnathan Rogers. Volunteers from Breckenridge ISD were Allison Young, Praire Freeman, Marlie Easley, and Roy Russell (BISD Trustee). Other volunteers included Brian Kight (4H Adult Leader); Sonja Morehart (PTO President and 4H Adult Leader President); Kenneth Myers and Dana Moser (Farm Bureau); Heath Ezell (Bertie and Olif Boutique); Jessie Shortes (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Ag Agent); and Jason Johnson (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Finance Specialist).

“Having a program like this at the end of the school year is always a concern with students not being engaged and counting down the days until Summer, but leaving the Welcome to the Real World program Monday afternoon my heart was filled. The students that participated in this program were very engaged, appreciative to the time and education these volunteers had given them and most of all extremely respectful and kind,” Sumer Russell said in a press release. “I left the program extremely proud to work with wonderful community members that care for our youth and students that were appreciative, respectful and kind– it reminded me that it is always a great day to be a Buckaroo.”