For nearly two decades graduates have lived in a simulated world. Their school challenges and rewards have simulated challenges and rewards they will receive in life. There have been simulated successes such as athletic victories and simulated failures that seemed important at the moment, but really serve to show us how to be gracious in victory and resilient in defeat. In the real world, there will be many defeats so the simulated teaches students how to handle them. There were simulated assignments that tested whether they could follow through. The stress imposed by the term papers, book reports, and science projects was real, but it was only preparatory for the stress sure to come as they climb the ladder in real life. Simulated rewards called trophies and ribbons were important at the moment. The trophy in the showcase or sitting on a dresser in a student’s room simulates the rewards of victory such as financial gain, influence, and power that are offered in the real world. There was even simulated imprisonment and punishments to show what happens in the real world if laws are broken. In the simulator their terms are short and names are protected. In the real world, the punishments are visible for a lifetime and are never private.

   High school is a life simulator because although the situations feel real to students, most of them have a real-world support group somewhere that picks them up when they fall, supports them if they fail; constantly inspiring, motivating and encouraging, and disciplining. Many feel that if the simulator experience ends, their families will sustain them.

   Everything we need to know about life can’t be learned in a simulator. At some point, we must get behind the wheel and sit in life’s cockpit with real controls in our hands knowing that if we crash or fail it won’t be simulated; it will be reality.

   The basic training for these young men and women has ended. They have lived a simulated life, with someone to catch them completely if they fall; or even if they refuse to try. Outside the simulator life gets real.

  Those who survive the real world which takes no prisoners are those whose faith in God is strong. It is that faith that helps them succeed just as well in the real world as they did in their simulated world.