Duneland 8th graders were excused from class this Wednesday to play a twist on the “Game of LIFE” at Chesterton Middle School. An annual event organized by the Duneland Chamber of Commerce in partnership with surrounding middle schools, the Reality Store gives students the opportunity to experience how their choices can have a major impact on their lives.
“It’s a really great way to send the students through a real life scenario and give them kind of a reality check and get them ready for real life,” said Beth Luncsford, Marketing Director for the Duneland Chamber of Commerce.
Students from Chesterton Middle School, Saint Patrick’s Catholic School, and Discover Charter School walked through the gymnasium and made life choices at each table. Students decided between transportation options, whether to buy a house or rent an apartment, and which type of food and clothing to purchase. At one table, however, they drew a ping pong ball which represented an unexpected life event. In this way, students were challenged to think and act proactively to prepare for the unexpected. This required a reflection on their strengths, interests, and current performance in school.
"On the day of the event, they have to make these life choices to see if they can live within their means,” explained Laura Herrod, a guidance counselor at Chesterton Middle School. “But what we hope this illustrates is that education or training is really, really important. We hope that they see the value of it and that they avoid pitfalls like drug use or pregnancy or things like that.”
The day of the event is a busy one! However, the Duneland Chamber of Commerce had a wonderful team of volunteers and committee members to make it all possible. In fact, many volunteers have been involved since the program was started 20 years ago.
“We require over 100 volunteers for this event and a lot of them are Chamber members volunteering and representing their businesses,” said Luncsford. “The woman I am working with right now, she’s been doing it since the very first day.”
John Marshall, a member of the Duneland School Board, has volunteered at the reality store for 16 years.
“I absolutely love it,” Marshall said. “I always bring a couple members from my company. We volunteer here every year so we have a lot of fun...It’s a great program and it’s been around for so long and so many kids benefit from it.”
The event was headed by Michelle Hunsley, Office Coordinator for the Duneland Chamber of Commerce. She has organized this event for the last two years and has noticed that the program not only helps kids better prepare for their future, but also instills within the students a deeper appreciation for their family and community.
“I think they have a better understanding of what their parents do as well,” explained Hunsley. “I know one kid said last year that they were going to go home and hug their mom because they didn’t realize how much she really did.”
This event helped open the students’ eyes to how important their education and choices are in determining the course of their lives. What’s more, it gave them the opportunity to learn directly from community and family members that have gone through it all. This fosters a network of support that encourages kids to make healthy, smart decisions so that they may lead happy lives and one day give back to their community as well.