Junior Achievement of Eastern Shore presents a virtual finance program for students

Junior Achievement of Eastern Shore has been preparing for this upcoming school year since the last bell rang in June. They develop programs in hopes to make an impact and help students grow.

But one program in particular is coming to more classrooms than ever before and aims to help students beyond the classroom.

JA Finance Park Virtual is an online simulation, where students can log in and receive a life situation. For example, a student may be given a  42-year-old life with two kids making $38,000 a year. Students then go around the simulation, or the online virtual city, and from there pay all their bills.

Approximately 1,400 students from 7th to 12th grade will participate in the program this year as they prepare to enter into the real world.

Before the virtual class begins, students will have 13 lessons learning about real life issues such as insurance, leasing verse buying a car, or even buying or renting a home.

Jayme Hayes, the president of the Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore explains what happens after they finish their tour, “As they make those financial decisions, an online personality pops up and explains what they could’ve done better; why the decision could have caused them to go negative in their bank account.”

Hayes says a major benefit is that these students are allowed to use this virtual situation to make decisions that aren’t going to affect their credit report for the rest of their lives and be able to make those mistakes.

To get a glimpse of what students are experiencing or if you would like to create your own avatar, click here.