State Rep. Carmine Gentile visited the Reality Fair. Left to right: teachers Kathleen Thompson and Kate Grant, Ravi Simon (Gentile’s aide, also an L-S alum and L-S School Committee member), Gentile, and Superintendent/Principal Andrew Stephens. See more photos below.
High school seniors have a lot to think about as they prepare for post-graduation life, not the least of which is money. Thanks to the annual Reality Fair, L-S seniors can get a head start on managing their personal finances.
At the interactive simulation (held this year on March 14), students start by choosing an occupation they hope to have by the age of 25. Based on that information, the Credit for Life software on a laptop they carry around automatically fills in their expected gross and net annual and monthly pay. From there, they visit booths with information on things like housing, education and training, food and nutrition, transportation, vacations, and pet ownership. They make “purchases” using cash, credit, or savings as they learn about what things cost, how much credit card companies charge, and how much they can accrue for retirement given their monthly contributions. The software keeps the students updated on their overall expenses and credit score so they can see the long-term results of their spending decisions.
For several months before it takes place, math teachers Kate Grant and Kathleen Thompson (with help from the LSPO and community sponsors) plan the fair, which includes doing everything from recruiting volunteers to fundraising for gift cards and food. This is the fourth year they’ve done it as an adjunct to the Financial Literacy course they teach. Thompson organized Reality Fairs at her previous post in Wayland. Students tend to enjoy the event; “they say it was way more fun than they thought it would be,” she said.
Many other schools (usually with the help of sponsors from banks and other businesses) state the fairs, “but we kind of put our own spin on it,” Thompson said. New this year, students also have to practice networking by talking with an adult at each booth about their career plans — dozens of volunteers from the community who man the booths and share information about their profession.
“The kids are really into it — they ask some really great questions,” said Diahanne Lucas, who works full time for WGBH but shared her experiences working part-time for extra money at Gillette Stadium.
Also unique to L-S was “Wheel of Reality,” probably the most popular booth, where participants spun a wheel and answered questions in hopes of winning gift cards. For example, they might have to locate a piece of information on a credit card statement or identify which of several text messages is actually from a scammer.
Many of the students were surprised at how much they’d need to shell out every month for things like food, rent, and streaming services, as well as how they expected to pay for them. “I thought I’d be using savings or a credit card more, but [I learned] I don’t need to go into debt,” said Annika Zurn, a Sudbury resident who plans to become a physical therapist.
“It surprised me how much you’ll get in interest if you start saving early for retirement — there’s so much more money in the end,” said Bella Chidziva of Sudbury, an aspiring nurse.
“Kate and I feel it’s our favorite day of the year,” Thompson said. “I’m fortunate to work in a place that supports this type of event and education.”
Click on photos below for larger versions and captions:
