FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — Approximately 80 Choctawhatchee High School students participated in the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation’s fourth annual Reality Check, a financial literacy simulation designed to teach real-world budgeting and decision-making skills, the Okaloosa County School District announced.
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The hands-on event placed students in the role of working adults, complete with assigned careers, salaries, and family scenarios. They rotated through stations such as Housing, Utilities, Insurance, Transportation, and Communications while making virtual payments and building monthly budgets.
According to the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation, this year’s Reality Check was sponsored by Origin Bank, whose support made the learning opportunity possible. Choctawhatchee High Principal Michelle Heck said the event had a meaningful impact on her students.
“Seeing our juniors and seniors participate in this incredible event reaffirms the importance of connecting classroom learning with real-life experiences,” Ms Heck said.
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“Our students stepped up, asked thoughtful questions, really took this experience seriously, and represented our school and their teachers with excellence. I’m very proud of them.”
Students also described how valuable the experience was.
“It was an eye-opening experience to have to make practical decisions on wants and needs with the given salary and budget,” said senior Ryan Taporco.
“It was a great real-world experience for opportunities and decisions we will encounter once we graduate high school,” said junior Abby Heck.
The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation coordinated the Reality Check event with support from numerous community partners and volunteers. Participating groups included the Okaloosa County School District, Doolittle Institute, Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI), Okaloosa County Teachers Federal Credit Union, Origin Bank, Eglin Federal Credit Union, CareerSource Okaloosa Walton, Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office, Niceville Starbucks, members of the U.S. Air Force at Hurlburt Field, Mike McMain, Sarah Cato, Quanz Peters, Fort Walton Beach Women’s Club, U.S. Army Recruiters, and Mortgage Apex.
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“Events like Reality Check align perfectly with the Foundation’s mission to support student success,” stated John Spolski, OPSF Executive Director.
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“We are deeply appreciative of our community partners who give their time and expertise to make this simulation both impactful and memorable for our students. Together, we are shaping financially responsible and informed young adults.”
