On Thursday, March 13, over 100 Jefferson Morgan High School students got a taste of the “real world” when they participated in a Financial Reality Fair, organized by Frick Federal Credit Union.
As part of a graded assignment with the purpose of teaching them the importance of responsible money management and financial literacy, the Junior and Senior students assembled in the JMHS gymnasium, selected a “career” of their choosing and were assigned to stay within a monthly budget. Along with several Frick FCU employees, volunteers from an assortment of backgrounds (including education, finance, marketing, and nonprofit management) manned booths set up to simulate the twists and turns of life, introducing the students to rent/housing, monthly bills, personal expenses, and unexpected hiccups.
Although the assignment was challenging to the students, Brittany Christoff, Marketing Manager of Frick FCU, believes that this was an excellent program to introduce to Greene County’s youth.
“As a high schooler, it can be difficult to grasp how expensive things are and how to properly budget without any real experience,” Christoff said. “This fair allows students the chance to budget a salary they could realistically earn in the future and understand the importance of being financially responsible. When they graduate, they’ll have a better idea of what to expect and the value of making smart financial choices.”
Frick FCU and other local credit unions, such as Chrome FCU in Washington County, plan on introducing the Financial Realty Fair program to other schools in the local region in the near future.