Every spring, all 8^th graders in Lawrence County participate in the 4-H “It’s Your Reality” program. This program is incorporated in the “Bridge Day” program, which was created for the purpose of bringing 8^th grade students from all middle schools in the county to meet and build friendships before coming together as one freshman class at Lawrence County High School.

Youth are not getting the financial education which they will need for adulthood. According to the 2008 results of the Jump $tart Coalition Survey among 12^th grade students received only an average score of 48.3% average on financial literacy testing. The “It’s Your Reality” program is important for this reason.

During the program, students go through a financial reality simulator. Each student is paired with an occupation, monthly salary, number of children, and age of children. They will then visit booths such as housing, transportation, childcare, and many others, to simulate real life financial situations they will encounter in adulthood. Students get to visually see how much these things cost as well as getting a glimpse at budgeting skills needed for adulthood.

This year, 190 students completed the program. This program is coordinated by Maelyn Huff, Lawrence County 4-H Youth Development Agent, all middle school guidance counselors, as well as Janice Salyer with the board of education. 9 community volunteers and 25 high school student volunteers participated and helped run the program.

In the post program survey ___% of students said that they had a better understanding of budgeting their money after completing the program and ___% of students said that they had a better understanding of how to make wise financial choices after completing the program.