On Tuesday November 7, Corry Federal Credit Union hosted the Reality Fair at Corry High. Some of the CFCU employees headed to Corry High to help teach the junior students basic life expenses, and money management skills. About a month ago, students were told to fill out a paper stating the profession they wanted to pursue in their futures, and CFCU took those responses and built a pamphlet for the students to work with based on their salaries and money amount.
There were many tables set up with adults ready to give their guidance to the students on what car to buy, what insurance they can afford, what internet plan was best, and other necessities that could fit in their budget. They each had a savings and checking account with a specific amount of money that was realistic to their job, and they had to decide which account they were going to take money out of for what things.
In the end there was a financial accountant table where they would take their pamphlets and the “financial accountant” would figure out all the numbers and tell each student what they needed to fix money wise because they were in debt. They would also tell the students who weren’t in debt and were financially okay.
It was very beneficial that the CFCU employees came and guided students in real life job scenarios to give them a taste of how life will be; to realize and open their eyes on the expenses of things, and sacrifices that need to be made. It was also a great problem-solving activity because if they did not have enough money for something they would have to solve around it, and figure out what changes need to be made.
