Imagining life outside school can be hard for people who have never expereienced it.
How much does your career path direct your life? What kind of family do you want to have and how will that effect your other choices?
Approximately 600 seventh-graders at Sashabaw Middle School found the answers to these questions and more at the ‘Reality Store? on Feb. 10.
The store has been a middle school program in Clarkston for several years and is actually an interactive workshop experience where students get the chance to plan a month of their lives between ages 25-30. In the weeks leading up to visiting the store, students were tested and guided toward careers they would be properly suited for and enjoy.
Linda Foran, SMS Pricipal, said the program does not include career choices like ‘sports star? or ‘rock star? because they are not realistic careers to expect. However, students interested in sports or music were encouraged to persue a variety of careers in those fields, even if they are not the ones often in the spotlight.
‘Keep your dreams alive, but let’s be realistic here,? Foran said.
After choosing a career and being assigned a family situation at random, students recieved their salary (based on their career choice) and visited several stations where they figured out how to deal with issue like child care, food, transportation, housing and financing.
‘They take it very seriously,? Foran said. ‘They look at it very intelectually.?
One station labeled ‘Reality Check? included all the little curve balls life can throw, both good and bad, to show students how they must be prepared. Some students inherited money, others had to pay for car repairs.
Student Rosie Magidsohn ended up as a caridiologist, but for the most part spent conservatively. With no children, she was able to save a lot of money for use at the final station: ‘Travel and Entertainment?
‘I just wanted a simple life,? said Magidsohn. ‘So I went with a normal condo, but I went big with a Mustang.?
After visiting the store, students heard from several volunteer parents, who spoke about their career choices and what paths they went down to get there.
Foran said support for the event was so large this year they had to turn away volunteer speakers.
‘This would not be possible without the wonderful parents,? Foran said.