Carthage High School seniors took an important step toward life after graduation on Thursday by participating in the annual Adulting 101 event, a hands-on experience designed to teach practical, real-world skills.
During the event, seniors rotated through eight instructional stations focused on essential adult responsibilities. Sessions included leadership and job success, money management, civic engagement, car maintenance, insurance basics, and even a “reality check” simulation.
In the simulation, students were assigned a career and salary and challenged to create a workable monthly budget. The activity required them to make real-life financial decisions, reinforcing the importance of budgeting, planning, and personal responsibility.
“There’s a lot of basic life skills that they’re getting through this event,” said Shannon Royce, Carthage High School counselor. “For a lot of them, the money they have been spending has been their parents’ money, so this is teaching them to prioritize the things that must be paid every month, and then budget for the things that are luxuries, which is very eye-opening for sure.”
The success of Adulting 101 was made possible through strong community partnerships. Carthage ISD extends its appreciation to East Texas Professional Credit Union for its leadership during the financial simulation, and for providing lunch for student participants. The district also thanks the Carthage Walmart for donating food for the hospitality room and the Panola County Chamber of Commerce for helping organize the many community volunteers who contributed their time and expertise.
“We have a lot of community members and business organizations that are part of this event, so it’s a great opportunity for our kids to interact with these community members as well,” Royce said.
Adulting 101 reflects Carthage ISD’s commitment to preparing students not just academically, but for success in everyday life beyond the classroom.