To the Editor:

The Business Department at Guilderland High School proudly hosted its first-ever financial reality simulation, Broke or Ballin’, on April 17 in the school’s Large Group Instruction room. This innovative, student-centered event brought together approximately 100 students and 12 local businesses for an immersive, real-world financial learning experience.

Developed collaboratively by Guilderland High School business teachers and the school’s Business Advisory Board, Broke or Ballin’ reflects a strong partnership between education and the local business community.

The Advisory Board includes local business professionals, business and technology teachers, a school counselor, and two student representatives, Anish Kandukuri and Doruk Turan. In addition, a senior, Priya Desai, who is enrolled in our Career Exploration Internship Program, also played a key leadership role in designing and organizing the event.

Broke or Ballin’ is an interactive financial simulation designed to help students connect career decisions with real-world financial outcomes. Each student was assigned a career commonly found in the local region and learned about associated income levels, educational requirements, and potential student-loan obligations.

Throughout the simulation, students rotated through a series of booths hosted by local business partners, each representing essential cost-of-living categories such as housing, transportation, food, utilities, clothing, entertainment, and savings.

At each station, students made realistic financial decisions — such as whether to rent or buy a home, or select between different transportation options — while tracking their spending using a checkbook register.

By the conclusion of the event, students evaluated their financial situations to determine whether they could sustain their chosen lifestyle. Many discovered the need to adjust spending, reconsider financial priorities, or explore additional income sources in order to achieve financial stability.

The day was a tremendous success, with students gaining valuable insights and real-world wisdom. Based on the high levels of engagement, thoughtful questions, and positive energy observed, students clearly enjoyed the experience while gaining meaningful financial knowledge.

The questions asked, the answers provided, and the rich dialogue between business representatives and students — as well as among students themselves — highlighted the many layers of learning and the wide-ranging benefits experienced by everyone involved.

As a representative of the Guilderland Central School District and as a member of the Guilderland community, I’d like to express our sincere appreciation to our business participants and our local Business Advisory Board members for the time, expertise, and effort they contributed to making this event such a success for our students.

The Guilderland High School Business Department extends its sincere appreciation to all community partners who helped bring this experience to life. With the success of its inaugural year, Broke or Ballin’ is expected to become a cornerstone experience in preparing students for financially responsible futures.

Joan McGrath

Business Teacher

Guilderland High School

Editor’s note: In addition to being a business teacher at Guilderland High School, Joan McGrath is the Career Exploration Internship Coordinator, Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Invest in your Future Coordinator, and Garden Club Co-Coordinator.