Each year, Hudson Middle School sixth graders participate in “BizTown”, a learning lab simulation in St. Paul sponsored by Junior Achievement. Leading up to the lab simulation, students study economics and finance in their World Studies and Math classes. Students complete resumes, job applications, and participate in job interviews in their Language Arts classes. During their time in the lab, students work to operate a profitable business, manage their finances, gain an understanding of local government, and experience being an “adult” for the day.
This year’s “Mayor” Lily Welle, from the Raider White House had this to say about her BizTown experience, “This experience will be very hard to forget. During the day my job was to run the whole town, answer questions or concerns, and spot out who was being a good worker and citizen. As mayor in others’ eyes, it seems that all you do is walk around and talk to people, when that is not it. As mayor, you have many responsibilities like making sure all of the citizens get paid the right amount, do all of the bank loans, give speeches about what’s going on in the town, set up the voting station, encourage others to have fun and get their work done, and more. Being mayor of BizTown was an amazing opportunity, and the staff and volunteers were so nice and encouraging. I hope that someday I can have a role or job just like this.”
