‘Out in the world’: Reality Fair opens eyes of students

By Chris Mays, October 20, 2023

Original article with video and photo essay by Kristopher Radder can be found at https://www.reformer.com/local-news/out-in-the-world-reality-fair-opens-eyes-of-students/article_dd527e48-6e9b-11ee-95eb-cf8593a51e47.html

TOWNSHEND — Outside Leland & Gray Union Middle High School stood a sign that read: Adulting 101.

Stations at the second annual Reality Fair put on by Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation on Thursday were set up to teach students about things they’ll experience in the near future.

“I had a lot of fun,” said Samantha Morse of Newfane, a junior at L&G.

Morse called the fair “eye opening” as students participated in an activity where they had to balance their wants and needs in a budget depending on their career. As a postal carrier in the game, she found she needed a part-time job to cover all her costs. She also learned about purchasing a vehicle and how to calculate the taxes that would be pulled out of her paycheck. Rihanna Dryden of Windham, a junior at L&G, also described the fair as “eye opening.” She said it was fun and she learned a lot of new things.

Christy Betit, manager of the Pipelines and Pathways Program at BDCC, explained how the fair included a financial literacy experience where students make their way around “the game of life.”

“They receive an entry level budget for a job that they could get in Windham County and then they have to decide what they want to purchase, what they want for transportation, what they want for housing …” she said.

Students spun a wheel of fortune that could change their financial situation. They might have gotten a flat tire on their car or won money on a scratch ticket.

At the end, they checked with TPI Staffing to see if their budget looked good. Once given a stamp of approval, they were entered into a raffle.

They then went to Dutton Gym for “the adulting piece, which is really practical life skills that we wish we had known when we were 18 that nobody told us,” Betit said. They learned how to change diapers, cook, explore local volunteer opportunities, obtain health care or mental health services, and tie ties.

Betit counted more than 80 volunteers and about 300 students from all of the Windham County high schools. Afterwards, students were asked to complete a reflection activity.

“I’m also encouraging the employers and anyone who knows about careers to talk to them about careers,” Betit said.

Anthony Page of Halifax, a sophomore at Twin Valley Middle High School, called the fair “a good learning experience” as he learned about budgeting around monthly expenses and taxes.

“This is how it’s going to be when I’m out in the world,” she said.