The student would go booth-to-booth selecting and making choices for their “family” working with a partner to practice compromise and communication. Students were able to select their housing, utilities, phone plans, internet and ways to have fun. They all built a budget for a month. “This is was such a great event … thank you for doing this…it really made me think about my future” Abigail Harris, Hume Senior. Reality Day was able to host six schools: Sheldon, Appleton City, Ballard, Montrose, Bronaugh and Hume.
Over 15 volunteers from the Hume community along with local community partners supported the event. Representatives from the following business and organizations attended: Peerless, West Central Community Action Center, MODot, Crowder College (Nevada Campus), Missouri Welding Institute, Hume Bank, Hume Insurance Agency, University of Missouri Bates County Extension office, Bates County Sheriff Office, Metropolitan Community College-Blue River. Reality Fairs are important experiential learning for students, this event was a success and helped empower young minds with budgeting skills and options to explore for their future.
Each student completed a check your knowledge pre and post survey and had opportunities to win a prize including all students earning a free ice cream cone from Swope’s sponsored by the extension office. Bates County Sheriff’s office also won a prize as the community partner that brought in the most canned goods. rootEd and the extension office enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate and support local students. Did this activity change the way you think about a family budget? “Yes, it’s crazy how much living costs”- anonymous response to post survey.
rootEd Alliance is a partner with DESE and believes every student should graduate high school on a path to achieve career success and economic stability. rootEd Alliance places dedicated college and career advisors in rural high schools to work with all students to define and plan their futures, whether through a college degree, work-based learning, or military service.
Hume school established a rootEd advisor in 2022, Janine Castillo. For more information on how to host a similar Reality Day event contact Sara Bridgewater, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist & County Engagement Specialist at sbridgewater@missouri.edu or 660-679-4167.
