Watch the Game on Channel 2 News
Our Students Talk About Our Work
Game of Real Life
The Game of Real Life is an exciting, 120-hour financial education, career planning, and college selection and funding course that culminates with a 20-hour reality simulation game on July 27 and 28 in Houston, TX. The Game is currently offered for credit during the school year at Sharpstown and Lee high schools.
This summer, 650 additional students will "age" from 19 to 26 years old, in one-hour intervals, while working, paying bills, filing tax returns, buying homes, cars, and insurance, funding college and managing life events like marriage and auto accidents. Our awarding-winning Game of Real Life is the first comprehensive financial planning program approved by the Texas Education Agency and is the recipient of the FDIC Chairman's Award for Innovation in Financial Education.
Game 2012 is hosted by more than 25 high schools with classes on their campuses scheduled during summer school. Other schools, such as Kipp and YES Prep have their students attend classes, open to the public, at University of Houston and Rice University in July 2012, after the high school summer school session..
We are recruiting outstanding instructors, team leaders and students for this program. Instructors and team leaders, please click INSTRUCTOR or TEAM LEADER button to learn more and to apply. Students, registration for Game 2012 will be announced by the individual coordinating summer opportunities on your campus. If you have been directed to this site to register, please click the STUDENT REGISTRATION button. If your school is not listed and you would like your school to participate, contact Nina Mayes at Nina@Skills4Living.org for additional information.
What is the tuition? The Game of Real Life, including Leadership Development Institutes, costs $850 with Skills For Living donors and Game 2012 business sponsors providing a $500 scholarships for each student. The balance of the tuition, $350, is paid by the student, parent, school, private scholarships or a combination of resources. All details regarding tuition, class dates, location, class time, and transportation are explained in the registration process.
If you are a volunteer, business sponsor or community leader and want to play Game 2012, S4L welcomes you! The Game requires more than 300 volunteers to create a reality environment for high school students. if you would like to learn more about playing Game 2012, click on GAME SUPPORTER or contact Jake Levine at Jake@Skills4Living.org for more information
To learn more about what to expect from Game 2012, view the video or download a parent / student brochure in English or Spanish.
Leadership Development Institutes
Leadership Development Institutes ("LDI") offer Game of Real Life graduates an opportunity to expand goals, create a plan, execute the plan and take bold next steps. Through a series of workshops held during the school year, Game graduates develop team building, leadership, time management, entrepreneurial, scholarship and critical-thinking skills. Classes are held on the University of Houston campus and on partner high school campuses.
Frequently, college students and business professionals volunteer to facilitate the various LDI workshops. If interested in supporting this programs or volunteering, click on BUSINESS SUPPORTER or contact Jake Levine at Jake@Skills4Living.org.
What does the LDI cost? In general, this dynamic, personal development program is included in the tuition paid for the Game of Real Life. Therefore, once a student graduates from the Game, he or she may attend the LDIs without additional cost.
If Skills For Living, Inc. has an opportunity to acquire an outstanding program for students with an additional cost, such as an academic course for credit, a trip, an employment training opportunity or a program like an SAT prep course, these programs are communicated to students and parents. If a student participates, then the tuition is paid.
Communication of all LDIs is through email. Students and parents should update their email addresses whenever necessary to be advised of the LDIs. To update your email, click on the UPDATE INFO button below.
In the spring of 2012, the Team Building and Entrepreneurial LDIs will be available to Game graduates. For more information, contact Nina Mayes at Nina@Skills4Living.org.
