Liberty High School juniors go through personal finance simulation

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Juniors at Liberty High School got a reality check on Thursday and learned about personal finance as they prepare for their lives after graduation.

Harrison County Schools hosted the Reality check personal finance simulation, which was sponsored by Truist Bank. The simulation is an in-person, fun, interactive game where students are given real-life scenarios themed around things like career, family, salary and credit score. The students then visit stations to purchase items they need to live such as a house, car and groceries.

Harrison County Schools, the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and the WVU Extension Service provided local business volunteers to act as vendors to sell students items that they need or may want.

“There’s a lot of decision-making going on in very little bit of time. So, that type of experience for them is going to mean a lot. I had a girl tell me on time that now she knows what her mother goes through and that was a comment made by a student last year that I’ve never forgotten and it’s real and it’s valuable,” Harrison County Schools Career Tech Ed Liaison Dr. Geraldine Beckett said.

The West Virginia Legislature passed a bill that went into effect July 1, 2024, that requires students to take a full credit course in personal finance for high school graduation.

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