By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

The challenges faced when a college graduate enters the “real world” is the basis for a first-time partnership between Hays Area Young Professionals and the Ellis County Extension Council for an upcoming panel discussion aimed to ease the transition from college to the real world.

Real World 101 will offer advice from recent college graduates and young professionals on topics such as finding a new job, fitting into a new community, paying off college loans, finding housing and more.

Audrey Werth, HAYP member and newly elected member of the ECEC, said the council has spent the last few years developing programs for seniors and wondered if it was time to focus on college seniors.

Werth remembered some of the questions she had when she graduated from college two years ago.

“I had no idea where to even go to vote. I don’t read the newspaper. People my age don’t read the newspaper. … It’s online stuff,” she said. “There were just some things I had to learn the hard way, and it would of been a lot of easier if someone told me these things before.”

Werth said the council  brainstormed with other HAYP members, asking, “What could have made your life easier growing up and getting into the real world?”

The two groups came up with many ideas and decided the first program will focus on paying off financial aid and  finding housing.

Werth said future programs will include topics such as health insurance and retirement plans.

Real World 101 is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 21 in the Cody Commons Room in the basement of Fort Hays State University’s Memorial Union.

For more information, contact the Ellis County Extension Council at (785) 628-9430 or email HAYP at
 [email protected].