High school students in the TRiO Upward Bound program at Highland Community College took part in a hands-on simulation designed to mirror adult financial responsibilities and career decisions.
The “Welcome to the Real-World Simulation” involved 35 participants and was part of an ongoing workforce-readiness series led by Kelly Lafferty, a 4-H Youth Development Educator, according to a community announcement.
Students explored a range of employment-focused skills, including identifying transferable abilities, completing job applications and practicing professional handshakes to improve first impressions. The program also emphasized building connections for job shadowing, internships and informational interviews with professionals in fields of interest.
Simulation offers real-life budgeting experience
As part of the activity, each student selected a potential career path and was assigned a monthly salary aligned with that profession. Participants then managed a simulated budget that included expenses such as housing, transportation, insurance and groceries…