The Reality Store program works to teach students life skills, the importance of valuing their education and how the effects life choices can impact their futures. In Grayson County, the 4-H Agent works directly with the Life Skills teachers at the middle school and has turned the booths and options in to a packet for the students to work through. The agent and teachers have tied the "Reality Check" to the financial unit taught in the classroom each nine weeks, giving the agent an opportunity to work with all seventh graders on a smaller scale. Beginning the unit, the agent works with the students on needs versus wants and a budgeting bean game. The classroom teacher works with the students over the course of the next 8-10 school days on how to do check registers, more budgeting lessons, etc. The agent then finishes the unit with the "Reality Check" packet. Each student is given a specific amount of money, family size and marital status based on their recent progress reports. They are then to work through the packet making purchases to live for a month (housing, transportation, food, clothing, etc.). They are also expected to keep a positive checking balance and at the end of the packet, and put an amount of the remaining money into a savings account.

After meeting with all seventh grade students through the year, 206 surveys were completed and returned, results were compiled providing student feedback about what they learned from the program this year. 

99% learned about the need to budget money and make wise financial choices.

78% learned what it costs to maintain a household and raise a child.

95% learned how the amount of money they make will determine the lifestyle they want to live.

90% are more likely to try harder in school after "Reality Check".

85% are more likely to get more education after high school.

88% are more likely to delay having children after completing the program.

95% are more likely to make wiser financial decision and save more money now.

The students were also asked to circle the highest level of education they planned to complete before "Reality Check" and after they completed the program. Opinions from before and after completion of the program, students who planned to obtain a College Bachelor's Degree and Graduate School rose from 41% to 51%. Students expressed they learned how to manage money, that providing for children is expensive and harder than it seems, that you try harder to stay in your budget and really think about your decisions, and how much your life decisions such as education choices can affect their life.