Gardendale High School students had the opportunity to learn about the highs and lows of real life finances with “Reality Check,” a program designed by Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Auburn and Alabama A & M Universities.

“I think it’s a pretty good learning experience. You learn stuff isn’t just handed to us. We have to work for it,” said Amber Requena, a Gardendale High School student.

The program is almost like the Life board game: Students start with a worksheet that randomly assigns them a job, yearly and monthly salaries, what kind of education they’ve had, and their marital and family situation. the program pretends the students are in their early-to-mid 20s.

The students take their worksheets to 12 stations, each representing everyday living costs like buying housing and insurance. They use their worksheet to track their finances and try to build a life, often sacrificing one expense to afford another.

“They can get a second job if they can’t pay for something … and it’s funny because a lot of them will force jobs on their non-working spouse,” said Ruth Brock, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System volunteer.

Volunteers make booths with display boards, each one a different station in the program, representing everyday living costs like buying insurance and housing. There is even a “That’s Life” station, which has random wild cards depicting good or bad unexpected financial turns.

“A lot of times I’ll hear them say they didn’t know how much kids cost. It makes them realize what their parents go through,” said Hannah Smith, a college student and the volunteer in charge of the “That’s Life” station.

Ashley Green, a guidance counselor at the high school, said she saw the program at Clay Chalkville High School and thought it would be a good fit in Gardendale.

“It gets them associated with finances,” said Green. “To see it all come together is shocking for them.”

Green said some of the volunteers actually worked in the field represented by their booth.