What is the REAL Life program?

REAL Life is a day long program designed for students in 11th or 12th grade.  The program is held at a local high school.  It consists of a series of activities intended to help students gain an appreciation for good financial decision-making.  The goal of REAL Life is to inspire students to appreciate the key issues surrounding personal finance and the importance of making sound financial decisions.

What will I be doing?

You will be assigned to one of five activities:  Budget Builder: Each student is given a unique life situation which includes, employment, marital information, education, etc.  You will work with five to seven students in developing their personal budgets. This includes making 14 decisions on expenses. All students work through each decision together during the two hours. You work with one group in the morning and one group in the afternoon. The other four activities include Insurance Jeopardy, The Price is Wrong, REAL Life game, and Financial Feud. You will be facilitating the activity eight times as the different groups rotate throughout the day.

Do I need to be an expert in financial literacy to volunteer?  

No! We provide everything you need to be successful throughout the day. We provide training and written materials prior to students arriving at the event

What is the time commitment for a Junior Achievement volunteer?

REAL Life is a one-day event and typically runs from approximately 8:00 am -2:00 pm.  Exact times will be emailed to you about 7-10 days before the event.

What if I have never worked with students before?

Don't worry! Many JA volunteers have not worked with students, yet they end their day eager to volunteer with JA again. Volunteers receive training prior to starting the activities with the students, have the support of JA staff members throughout the day, and teachers will always be present.

Will I be on my own during the day?  

No!  There will be other volunteers helping students throughout the day.  The event is held in the gym or classrooms with other volunteers, students, teachers, and JA staff members.

Do I need clearances to enter the school?

No. Since this is a one-day event, the schools do not require copies of clearances. You may be asked to provide a driver’s license as ID.