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Learning life skills: Students gain real-life experience

Life creates countless challenges and questions after high school, and things can become even more challenging for students with disabilities. It is with these students in mind that the 13th annual Interviewing Workshop was conducted on Thursday, March 15, at Michigan Technological University.

The event was sponsored by Copper Country Intermediate School District, MTU Career Services, Keweenaw Business and Professional Women (KBPW), Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and Michigan Transition Services.

Approximately 64 students from the Copper Country, and the Marquette-Alger school systems, selected a career, then applied for a job, experienced an interview, and balanced a monthly budget for their hypothetical families.

They discovered the importance of financial planning and career selection. During the day, students rotated between events: the Reality Store, Mock Interview, and a panel discussion.

The Reality Store, sponsored by KBPW, is an interactive game that helps teach students budgeting skills, such as balancing a checkbook, buying insurance, making wise consumer choices for food, clothing, and utilities, and making career choices through thoughtful budgeting decisions. They had to purchase a place to live, phone and internet packages, clothing, and other day-to-day items, as well as luxury items like entertainment, for a month with their salaries.

After selecting a career, students rolled dice to determine their marital status and number of children.

“The Reality Store was a great hit,” said Kathy Flagstadt of Michigan Rehabilitation Services of Marquette. “It really teaches the students what it costs to live. It’s an example of what it costs to live for one month, and it influences what employment choices they make.

“They realize what it costs to get married, have kids, buy a home, or even get divorced”

The KBPW provided volunteers to guide the students at each of the 16 stations, Flagstadt said.

The Mock Interview portion of the day had the students complete job applications, resumes and references, just as if they were actually applying for a job. They were then given a mock interview.

The students and employers, after each interview, reviewed a rubric, scoring students on categories such as eye contact, verbal responses, and appearance, to better prepare them for actual interviews they will experience after graduation.

At the panel discussion, a panel comprised of staff and faculty from community agencies and educational institutions, suggested the students to consider several service options after graduation, as well as jobs. Volunteers from the MTU Summer Youth Program, Public Schools of Calumet’s JROTC, the National Guard, NMU Jacobetti Center, Finlandia University, Gogebic Community College and the Michigan Career Center met with students.

Flagstadt said the Interview Workshop does not end there. The students return a form one year after graduation, she said, that allows for checking the progress on the students, including if they found employment and where, or if they instead attended a college, university, or a trade school.

Flagstadt, who is retiring after this year, said this is the 13th year the program has been running, and 12th physical event to be conducted. Last year, the event was cancelled.

“It was scheduled for last year, too,” she said, “but then we had that snowday.”

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