ELLISVILLE – Jones College’s High School Equivalency students learned how well they would survive in the “Real World” by experiencing life’s challenges through the Mississippi State Extension service’s “Welcome to the Real World” program. MSU Extension Agent for Jones County, Kim Hancock passed out a random profession and budget worksheet with details about gross salary, taxes, insurance, and family to each of the 40 students. Then, they visited professionals in 10 stations and were given options on how they could spend their salary. Everyone had to budget and make decisions about childcare, clothing, communications, contributions/donations, extra-curricular activities, entertainment, food, housing/utilities, and transportation for themselves and at least a spouse and one child. Additionally, each student drew a “Life Happens” situation which could benefit or harm their budgets. Without an option to quit life, students were left with the choice of being in debt/going broke, getting a second job or successfully budgeting their monthly salary.
“I started with $3,900 for my family with one 12-year-old and a spouse,” explained Kris Lee of Hattiesburg. “After budgeting for a house and everything, I had $455 I put in savings for future expenses because you never know what will happen in life.”
The 28-year-old wanted to earn his Smart Start credential and High School Equivalency (HSE) at Jones College to have more options for employment, after earning an Occupational degree in high school. Today’s exercise in money management helped him reinforce what he has learned in class and in life.
HSE student, Katie Barnett of Laurel also has some real-world experience as a mother of four children, but she realized through today’s “Real World” event there is always something more to learn.
“I realized today how to make some better decisions, so I won’t have to struggle so much to make life better for my family. That is why I am getting my HSE and hopefully a college degree. I want to have more options for my family,” said Barnett.
The MSU extension agency offers this money management training for high school students with the help of volunteer professionals from banking institutions and other professionals in the community. Hancock said the purpose of the program is to plant seeds to help students make wise decisions in the future and help them become better citizens.
