CareerTEC Mall of Life Event
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThe CareerTEC Mall of Life is a life-skill simulation event focusing on financial literacy, in which sixth and seventh grade students take part in making real-world adult decisions. The event instills skills such as decision-making, financial responsibility, problem-solving, goal setting, and communication, which prepares students for making realistic choices and achieving a successful future. The Mall of Life offers a glimpse into the realities of a career, salaries, and the obligations of daily life.
Prior to the event, each student picks a career from a list provided by CareerTEC. At the event, students are given the corresponding “salary” for one month minus any student loan amount for the career choice they’ve made. We randomly designate students to be “single,” “married,” “divorced,” and if they have “children,” which makes the event more realistic.
There are 14 “stores” (booths) set up with a poster at each showing the life choices the students have to make and what they must “pay for” while keeping track of their spending. The “stores” include purchasing housing, daycare, groceries, clothes, insurance, vehicles, doctor visits, cell phones, pets, and vacations, if their salary allows. The Mall of Life is both interesting and fun for students and provides them with insight to see what adults deal with in real life.