“Reality 101” event hosts nearly 200 graduating seniors from area schools

Nearly 200 graduating seniors from Postville, Kee, MFL/MarMac and Waukon schools attended “Reality 101” at the Waukon High School Wednesday, March 22. Over 80 individuals and businesses volunteered their time to create a real life financial scenario for these students preparing for graduation.

Each student chose a career and researched monthly income based on average northeast Iowa wages in the classroom setting prior to the activity. The day of Reality 101, the students were provided with a life scenario which may include a spouse, children and possibly even child support situations, including the information they provided on their chosen career and college plans. The students were then required to visit each of the 30 stations to open a bank account, pay their taxes, purchase an automobile and insurance, pay for daycare, groceries, household supplies, vet expenses, health and life insurance, etc.

They were also visited by a roaming officer who issued many tickets for traffic violations, and a roaming nurse who had to charge full price for medical services to any students who had not elected to purchase health insurance. In addition, they were also dealt fate cards that caused them additional out of pocket expenses due to fictitious scenarios such as broken water pipes or vehicle repair - all things that can and do unexpectedly happen in real life.

The students had to balance their checkbooks and prove they had a positive balance in order to exit the event. Those with a negative balance had to visit the “SOS” table and brainstorm ways to get themselves out of debt.

“Since the first year of my involvement in Reality 101, approximately 13 years ago, the event has grown by leaps and bounds. The “buy in” to Reality 101 from workers, schools, students and parents has been the key element to that growth,” states Cheryl Livingston, Event Coordinator. “This year, more than ever, I heard how much students were looking forward to participating based on previous participant experiences. As I walked around observing the courteous interactions between the students and workers it was clear how strongly that “buy in” exists. Maintaining the “buy in” to Reality 101, through every role in the event, is what makes it a success year after year.”

Many of the businesses helping with the event go to the work of providing real-life costs of their products and services ahead of time so these students can “purchase” items at today’s prices, relevant to other purchases students made through the day.  For example, utility prices were specific to the Housing selections available, making the event as realistic as possible.

Participating businesses and organizations this year included the following:  R.W. Pladsen, Torkelson’s of Waukon, Cook Insurance Agency, Fidelity Bank and Trust, Freedom Bank, Waukon State Bank, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, Growing Bear Daycare, Waukon Lion’s Club, TASC, Sweeney Real Estate, Farm Bureau Insurance, JaDecc’S, Kitchen Krafts, Waukon Wellness Center, Alliant Energy, Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative, NICC, Waukon Police Department, Iowa Workforce Development, Waukon Harley Davidson, Allamakee County Auditor’s Office, Allamakee County Recorder’s Office, Iowa and Allamakee County Courts, Allamakee Community School District and many Veterans Memorial Hospital volunteer Auxiliary members, Foundation members, and volunteer greeters as well as staff volunteers.

This event is sponsored by Veterans Memorial Hospital. Allamakee Community Schools graciously allows the event for all of these area schools to be held in the Waukon High school gymnasium each year, with assistance from Waukon High School Guidance Counselor Amy Wasson, Waukon High School Secretaries Liz Hanson and Erin Plein, and the school’s janitorial staff.

For more information on Reality 101 or to volunteer to be involved in next year’s event, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.