MGLVA Reality Store Brings Real-World Readiness to Life 

What if your next high school class came with a paycheck, rent, and an unexpected trip to the emergency room? At Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy, students are doing just that—learning the financial realities of adulthood through hands-on simulation known as the Reality Store. The Reality Store is an immersive educational experience that mirrors the unpredictability of real life. 

Designed for students in grades 5-12, the Reality Store brings participants into a simulated adult life that comes with a randomly assigned job, a monthly salary, and expenses. And just like the real world, not every path is easy. A student might pull a high-paying job as a doctor with no dependents or receive a lower-wage role as a janitor responsible for three kids. Regardless of what is assigned, the experience is designed to emphasize that planning, education, and smart choices matter. 

Students use debit-style worksheets; logging expenses and tracking their bank balances across 13 interactive stations. Students make major life decisions such as housing (rent or mortgage) and transportation (car/insurance/gas or public transit). They also must budget for utilities, groceries, clothing, childcare and pet care, entertainment and charitable giving, medical expenses, and insurance. Sometimes, a surprise comes their way that could result in an unexpected trip to the emergency room or a lucky lottery win.  

Each student’s goal is simple: to end the month with money left in the bank. Achieving that takes tradeoffs, decision making, and sometimes even taking out a loan, which especially hits home when the student realizes that the debt follows them into the next month’s budget. 

One of the program organizers referred to it as a real-world version of the popular board game, The Game of Life. Mr. Weaver explains, “You see students make tough choices and have those ‘aha’ moments. They finish the day with a new appreciation for what it really takes to make ends meet.” 

Launched in 2023, MGLVA’s Reality Store serves as an important in-person experience that promotes real world readiness and personal growth. Ultimately, the exercise prepares students for the road ahead, whether it is understanding the cost of living, avoiding unnecessary debt, or realizing that every financial decision has consequences. 

MGLVA hosts in-person Reality Store events several times a year across Michigan. To attend the next event, please contact Mr. Weaver at raweaver@k12.com.