At the "Welcome to the Real World" experience, students from Galesburg Junior High School will learn about future career opportunities through hands-on activities.
Coordinator of Career Development at Sandburg, Tracy Engstrom, said the event will consist of two portions: a financial literacy simulation and a career exploration portion.
In the real-world, financial simulation, Engstrom said students will be assigned a new age of 25, along with a career of their choice and a monthly salary.
“They’re learning about deducting taxes, they have a savings account, they learn how to write checks, they pay a student loan of applicable, and spending their salary on lifestyle choices," Engstrom said. "So, at the very end, they find out, ‘I made great financial decisions,’ or ‘I need to do better.’”
Engstrom said that during the career exploration portion, students can connect with local professionals on a Q&A panel, as well as participate in hands-on career activities.
“So, they can try their hand at welding. They can try their hand at C&C operating machines. They get to practice voting [on] their favorite form of ice cream," Engstrom said. "They get to actually hold simulation babies and get them to stop crying for the child development piece.”
The annual event is sponsored by the college, along with the University of Illinois Extension and the Regional Office of Education Number 33, and it will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on November 15.
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