Reality. It's a harsh thing sometimes, and students from Duneland Schools experienced it firsthand at the Reality Store sponsored by the Chesterton Duneland Chamber of Commerce. Eighth graders from Chesterton Middle School and other area schools participated in the exercise to experience what it would be like to live life as a 28 year-old. That includes paying the mortgage, working a job and paying off loans. Each student researched different careers beforehand in the context of their strengths and interests and chose an occupation partially based on their GPA (i.e. doctors don't have a GPA of 2.0). They then role played their lives going to different stations, paying their bills, making choices on the different types of housing and so on and so forth.
Co-chair of the event, June Russell of the Chesterton Duneland Chamber said, "It is an exercise, but it is something we try to make kind of true-to-life so they can see how life is when it comes to your expenses, how you have to allot for things, and how you have to make choices."
"The purpose of this whole exercise is to show how important education is," said the alternate co-chair, Laura Herrod, who also works as the 8th grade counselor at CMS. "[The Chamber] does a tremendous job of rallying the forces among their volunteers...we wouldn't be able to do this without them." The program itself seemed to be quite articulate with about 120 volunteers spread out all over the Chesterton High School gymnasium.
When a handful of students were asked what they learned from the event, many of them commented about the negative circumstances their fictional future selves found themselves in. Justin Garmany from CMS said, when asked about the most important thing he learned, "Money goes by fast, and you have to keep track of it." Victoria Mosher from CMS said something very similar. That's of course something better learned earlier than later.
"A lot of parents unfortunately don't talk about money with their children, because it's personal," said Russell. "But, we really owe it to our children to prepare them by talking about finances."
Austin Gregory of CMS said, "I got out of this store some good information about how I'm going to live my life in the future."
And that is the answer that every teacher, mentor, or parent hopes that their students will get out of the Reality Store. In fact, all of the information and experiences are brought home to their families where their parents look over everything and sign a form to be returned to school. So the hope would be that students together with their parents can look at the results and discuss how perhaps they can do better in school or possibly change their future goals for school or career. After all, it's never too late for change.
To see more photos from the event, click here!