CULLMAN — High school ninth graders got a taste of the real world when the Keeping It Real program made a stop at Cullman High School this week.

The Keeping It Real program, sponsored by the Cullman Area Workforce Solutions (CAWS), began four years ago.

“They will have time to investigate their jobs and decision,” she said. “Some of the students have no idea what things will cost.”

This two-day program gives students a brief glimpse of what life will be like on their own. The students are required to live on a budget which varies, according to their education level, job and family situation.

The students are given jobs and a family situation as randomly chosen by a computer program. They visit 12 booths and purchase groceries, clothes, transportation, housing, child care and other personal items.

Students must make real-life decisions, like choosing brand-name or generic products, buying insurance or going back to school.

“This year alone, almost 1,100 ninth grade students have completed the two-day mentoring program,” Shearer said.

Shearer wanted to begin the program for ninth graders because that will give them time to think about their future.

The program is a real eye-opener for some students.

“I think I’m learning that it’s definitely good to go get a higher education,” Caroline Arnold said. “I knew I wanted to go to college, but now I am for sure.”

“I want to go to college,” Anna Hendrix said. “It’s a major reality check.”

Arnold said she will think twice before wanting to go spend money.

“It kinda makes me not want to go shopping,” she said.

“It opens their eyes and makes them aware of what things cost,” said volunteer Jacqueline Schendel. “This is a really good program.”

Carl English, public relations manager at Topre, said the college option is not always the best.

“Being in industry, we see there is a lot of emphasis on college, but we want to focus on ones not going to college because they show up at our doorsteps,” he said.

English said many students decide to go straight into industry.

“We want to focus on basic industry skills,” he said. “There are a lot of good paying jobs in the industry.

“In this country, we focus on college and helping the underemployed, and not helping those who decide not to attend college and go into an industry job,” English said.

The students have given Shearer and others a positive response to the program.

“They love it,” Shearer said. “They really enjoy the program. If we can get them to stay in school, that is what we want.”

Marshall Johnson was a environmental engineer, single and had two young sons.

“As soon as I complete high school, I want to go to college and get as much education as I can,” Johnson said.

Johnson hopes to be a veterinarian because he loves animals. He said he knows money management will be important.

“I watch my mom and dad with their checkbooks,” he said. “I want to have children and I know child care will cost a lot.”

Buchanan Jackson with Cullman County Economic Development said this is a good learning experience for the students.

“I think it’s really good for all the students, but especially for the ones who are drop-outs (on their forms),” he said.

One of those who was a drop-out in the program said he saw the importance of obtaining a college degree.

Reed Partain was a drop-out, working at a grocery store making $16,000 per year and having to ride his bike to work.

“I’m broke,” he said. “It does make me realize that I definitely want to go to college and get a good job.”

Billy Barnett, history teacher and track coach, said this is a good learning experience for his students.

“A lot of them have no clue what it is like to be in the real world,” he said. “We want to encourage them to go to school.”

Barnett said the program really lets students see how much things cost.

“A lot had no idea how much things cost,” he said.

Janice Cook, librarian at CHS, said she has heard a positive response from all students.

“I have not heard anything negative,” she said. “Students seem to enjoy it.”

Leah Casey, Wallace State career coach, hopes to encourage all students to have a plan upon graduation.

“We try to help the students and stir them in the right direction when they are done with high school,” Casey said.

Susan Ellar with Economic Development said the reasoning for starting this program was to teach the students and how to manage money.

“We thought the students had not thought about money and how to equate it to their real life,” Ellar said. “Some of them don’t really have a clue, and this gives them a way to see it on paper.”

Sheila Phillips, principal, said any time students can be shown a real-life situation, it will help them in the future.

“Real-life experiences we feel are invaluable,” she said

Through the program, students learn the importance of staying in school and getting a higher education, planning for the future and seeing the correlation between post secondary education or training and the level of income received.



Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.