Nearly 80 juniors and seniors navigate adult responsibilities through hands-on simulation

Okaloosa County, Florida – This week, some students at Choctawhatchee High School got a firsthand look at how much it really costs to be an adult. Almost 80 juniors and seniors took part in the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation’s fourth annual Reality Check, a hands-on financial literacy program that let them experience what it’s like to be a working adult. Students had to make choices that fit within a monthly budget while still satisfying their basic necessities. They had jobs, incomes, and family responsibilities.

Participants in the simulation had to move from one station to another that represented important financial responsibilities. Students had to make quick but careful decisions at tables for housing, utilities, insurance, transportation, and communication. They had to decide what was a need and what was something they wanted, and they had to do it all while staying within their budget. A lot of people commented that the exercise showed how fast financial plans may change based on even simple choices.

Origin Bank helped make this year’s event happen, and their funding helped make sure the program came back. Principal Michelle Heck noted that one of the best parts was seeing children really get into the exercise.

“Seeing our juniors and seniors participate in this incredible event reaffirms the importance of connecting classroom learning with real-life experiences. Our students stepped up, asked thoughtful questions, really took this experience seriously, and represented our school and their teachers with excellence. I’m very proud of them,” Heck said.

Many people who took part in the study said the same thing. Ryan Taporco, a senior, said that the simulation opened his eyes, especially when he had to choose between wants and needs on a tight budget. Junior Abby Heck said that the activity gave her a strong idea of the choices she would have after high school and helped her grasp how financial decisions affect daily living.

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The Foundation worked closely with community partners to make the event happen, and the list of supporters was long and wide. People from the Okaloosa County School District, the Doolittle Institute, Modern Technology Solutions, Inc., numerous local credit unions, CareerSource Okaloosa Walton, the Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office, and several civic groups volunteered. People from the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, as well as volunteers from the business sector, also contributed their time.

OPSF Executive Director John Spolski said the event reflects the Foundation’s broader mission to prepare students for future success.

“Events like Reality Check align perfectly with the Foundation’s mission to support student success,” stated John Spolski, OPSF Executive Director. “We are deeply appreciative of our community partners who give their time and expertise to make this simulation both impactful and memorable for our students. Together, we are shaping financially responsible and informed young adults.”

Many of the students who left the simulation had an entirely new appreciation for budgeting and the everyday decisions that affect financial security. They will soon employ these abilities in the real world.