The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA

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January 17, 2012

North Murray freshmen get a dose of 'Reality'

Submitted by North Murray High School — North Murray High School’s ninth-grade students got a little dose of reality on Nov. 14, when they spent their morning shopping at the Reality Store.

Students earned monthly “wages” based on their chosen careers, and then spent those earnings by paying income taxes, mortgage or rental fees for housing and car payments, and for child care, insurance, medical bills, etc. The premise for the Reality Store is based on a program created in 1991 by the Indiana Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc. to help students learn basic skills in financial planning, goal setting, decision making and career planning.

Objectives also include helping students clarify the need to examine their attitudes about their futures and career expectations, and to motivate students to stay in school and plan for some type of post-secondary education. This is the time that young men and women make critical decisions that affect the course of their lives, decisions about educational paths, career options, lifelong mates and family planning. It is hoped that the Reality Store will help them look at these decisions with a more sophisticated attitude about the realities and options for their future.

NMHS is committed to making our youth aware of the importance for all adults to lead balanced, self-sufficient lives. We hope that with this activity, and other career development activities conducted throughout the year, that young people will learn about career options, evaluate their choices and plan appropriately for their future.

Karen Harkleroad, a counselor at NMHS, said the Reality Store event would not have been possible without the help and support of community volunteers, parents, teachers and other staff members at NMHS. We live in a great community whose members place such high value on educational opportunities that help students realize the importance of future planning and goal setting.

NMHS extends its sincerest appreciation to the community, business and parent volunteers who gave up a large portion of their day to help with this eye-opening event. Participants included representatives from Shaw Industries, Cohutta Bank, Caldwell Bankers, USA Ready Mix, Murray County Chamber of Commerce, Murray County Recreation Department, Murray County Schools administrative staff, Murray County government, Murray County Health Department, Corner Drugs, North Georgia Electric, Windstream, Cimbar Performance Minerals Inc., Holly Creek Baptist Church, Amazon.com, Route 76 Leasing, retired educators of Murray County and many other individuals from the community. NMHS partners with the Georgia Appalachian Center for Higher Education and is provided grant funding to make the Reality Store event possible.

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