In today's fast-paced world, education isn't just about absorbing information—it's about applying it in meaningful ways. That’s why our school administration is championing experiences that go beyond textbooks, helping students grasp the "why" behind their learning. Solomon schools invited the Pando Initiative to host their interactive simulation, Reality U® to our eighth and tenth grade students on March 27th, 2025. Through initiatives like Reality U®, students step into real-world financial scenarios, making choices that illustrate the direct connection between education and their future stability.
Reality U® uses our students’ current schooling to its advantage. It allocates a monthly income to each student based on their GPA and a career based on the student completed pre-survey. There were twelve booths for the students to visit that reflect what an adult would typically purchase each month such as Retirement, Childcare, College, Vehicles, Housing, and Food, to name a few. Students were given a ‘passport’ listing the booths to visit, their monthly income, and 75 minutes to ‘purchase’ all the necessary items that would get them through a month.
Some students were partnered up with a peer combining their income. If students filled out that they wanted children in their pre-survey, they were also responsible for childcare and possibly for caring for a baby doll during the simulation. Sarah Riordan recalled how, “it was pretty humorous watching some of my students walk around the gym trying to soothe crying babies while purchasing life insurance.”
There were several goals and inherent life lessons stitched into the simulation. First, it taught our students that their actions now affect their future. Second, that their guardians work very hard to provide them a good life. Third, while children come with a lot of responsibility and cost, it is important to invest if they so choose. Finally, they have to work hard in order to have the luxuries of life without falling below zero on their monthly balance.
This experience reinforced the idea that present actions have lasting consequences, influencing future outcomes. Since students' monthly income was partially determined by their GPA and career choice, each booth offered a unique interaction between volunteers and students, creating diverse real-world scenarios. Students were encouraged to visit every single booth, with the exception of Childcare and Need Extra Cash. The Savings & Retirement booth was a two-part series. First they would set up a savings account and after visiting every other booth, they would visit again and set up their retirement. Both of these involved investments from their monthly income. Thus, not every student was able to have a savings account or a retirement based on their other monthly expenses. Volunteer Ariel Lambert, at the Savings and Retirement booth, had a handful of student interactions where they were unable to set aside money for retirement. She witnessed students frustration at not being able to retire!
Another volunteer, Logan Krause, who was at the cell phone and leisure booth remarked, “I've been a salesman a couple times before I started working in the school. I did upsell everyone, and was pretty successful. But even those that resisted, I also was realistic about what all they use on a regular basis and what they needed (depending on marriage, kids, occupation), plus the fact that those things all cost money. It's like death by a thousand papercuts when you're consistently making a bunch of small payments.”
We are certain that our students are grateful for what their parents do for them but this simulation really puts into perspective how many expenses their parents are financially responsible for. Volunteer Dean Ann Zsamba stated, “You could see the wheels turning as they realized all of the expenses involved in life and what their parents are going through to provide for them. I think many went home that night a little more humble but maybe with more respect for the struggles that every family goes through.”
Many of our students will grow up and choose to become parents. They had an opportunity in the pre-survey to opt in to providing for children on top of their other monthly expenses. If they did this, they would have to allocate funds for childcare. Students found that these expenses were especially high. The Solomon school Librarian and volunteer Sarah Riordan, stated, “having young children, I know first hand the cost of childcare. I was surprised with how accurate the pricing was. It truly was a dose of reality for some students! I also loved how the main presenter addressed the students at the end of the session. He said something along the lines of we're not telling you to never start a family. Having kids is one of life's greatest adventures, but you have to understand the responsibilities you will be faced with before you choose that path.”
To enjoy life's luxuries without slipping into financial hardship, students must work hard to maintain a positive monthly balance. Students could choose between luxury and basic cars, purchase a cell phone, and even take on a second job (i.e., Need More Money booth) to afford their selections. These decisions embraced how life can be very fun but with that comes hard work and smart financial decisions. Zoey Walton, so., reflected on her and her partner’s budget constraints. “We did pretty good on budgeting. Our biggest hurdle was budgeting the cars and groceries. We realized it would be a lot more expensive trying to feed 4 months versus just ourselves. And then trying to find a family vehicle and then a second for work.” After several interactions with the students Krause advises, “Stand your ground. know what you need, and know what you want.”
This simulation required a large portion of volunteers from our community. We are so grateful that the community came together to help facilitate this simulation for our students. Each booth was staffed with school administrators, parents, and community members who believe in the success of the Solomon student body. Without their efforts and time, we could not have had such a successful event. Initially our volunteers were skeptical and felt they would not be able to represent the needs of the simulation. Zsamba stated, “I knew nothing about this exercise but I was quite sure it was going to be a meaningless experience with a bunch of totally disinterested kids. WRONG! The kids were so engaged - it was amazing to listen to their conversations and answer their questions - it was so rewarding!” Many of our volunteers wished that they had an experience like this in school. Ceri Turton, middle school student, learned a lot from the simulation stating, “you really have to work with your money. Our cars were so expensive that we ran out of money. It gives you a really good look at what actually spending your money looks like in real life.”
With such a positive reaction from our students able to attend the event, we are hopeful we can bring this experience back to Solomon in future years and more grade levels. By embracing programs like Reality U®, Solomon schools continue to prioritize hands-on learning that empowers students beyond the classroom. This immersive experience equips them with essential financial literacy skills, fostering confidence in their ability to navigate adulthood. As students reflect on their choices and consider the impact of their education on their future, they gain valuable insight into personal responsibility and career readiness—key components of lifelong success. Through initiatives like these, our schools reaffirm their commitment to preparing students for the realities of tomorrow.