Provided Photo Juniors and seniors at L'Anse High School took part in the Financial Reality Fair, Friday in the LHS gym.

L’ANSE — Last Friday, the L’Anse High School Gym was transformed into a fast-paced simulation of adult life during the school’s first-ever Financial Reality Fair, hosted by Breakwater Federal Credit Union. The impactful event gave juniors and seniors a powerful glimpse into the world of budgeting, decision-making, and financial independence.

Students stepped into the shoes of independent adults by selecting a career path and receiving a mock monthly salary based on that profession.

With their budget in hand, they navigated a series of interactive stations where they had to make real-life financial decisions about how they would allocate their income to cover everyday expenses such as housing, furniture, transportation, or entertainment. Each decision challenged students to balance wants versus needs, stay within budget, and plan for unexpected expenses. For many students, the experience was eye-opening and sparked valuable conversations about financial priorities and long-term planning.

This event was made possible with support from the Michigan Credit Union Foundation and the many volunteers who generously shared their time and real-world experiences to

help bring financial education to life. Among them was Cindy Cowell, a member of Breakwater Federal Credit Union is dedicated to positively impacting those we serve by building lifelong relationships, one member at a time.

Breakwater Federal Credit Union’s Board of Directors, commented on a recent Facebook post, “It was a great event! I really enjoyed chatting with the students.” Her

involvement, along with that of fellow volunteers, helped create meaningful conversations that connected financial concepts to real-life experiences. Breakwater Federal Credit Union remains deeply committed to supporting financial literacy education throughout the communities we serve. Through engaging, hands-on experiences like the Financial Reality Fair, we aim to empower the next generation with the knowledge and confidence they need to make smart financial decisions. This aligns with our mission to positively impact those we serve by building lifelong relationships, one member at a time, and our vision to empower our members and community by providing valuable financial resources and exceptional service.

If you’re interested in bringing a financial literacy event to your school or organization, contact Breakwater’s Marketing & Community Relations Coordinator, Kayleigh

White: Kayleigh.white@breakwaterfcu.org . To learn more about Breakwater Federal Credit Union, please visit breakwaterfcu.org.