“What would you do?” explores how some students pay for their studies.
Tonight, “What would you do?” tackles an issue that many college hopefuls and their families struggle with: How will they pay for their university studies?
Many college graduates in America are entering the next chapters of their lives with serious debt, with some struggling to make their monthly student loan payments. According to the US Federal Reserve, as of June 2019, there were over 44 million people with a total of over $ 1.68 trillion in student debt nationwide.
Many students do a series of odd jobs to complete their education, but some students, like the one our actress Scarlett Sperduto portrayed in tonight’s episode, have the idea of becoming a “sugar baby.”
Watch “What would you do?” at 10 p.m. ET on ABC
In the scene, another student, played by actor Lenique Vincent, worries about her friend’s plan. “What would you do?” spent a day at the Jefferson Diner in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, where diners were within earshot of our scripted conversation:
“By the time I finish my studies, I will be in debt in the tens of thousands of dollars… I have a plan to avoid this. Have you ever heard of a sugar baby? Said Sperduto.
“A sugar baby?” Vincent answers.
“Do not laugh!” Said Sperduto. “There are women who find men to pay their bills and buy them things… you just have to go out with them and go out with them.”
Customers’ ears perked up immediately once they caught wind of Sperduto and Vincent’s conversation. A few people spoke, expressing concern for the safety of our actor, Sperduto. Others have suggested that becoming a “sugar baby” could have negative, career-ending consequences for Sperduto’s future.
“What would you do?” came across a 15-year-old career counselor who told our cast that there were other ways to pay for college and even get a debt-free degree. He suggested applying for scholarships and grants.
The advisor even decided to join our actors at their table.
“My whole motto for all my kids has been like this… Ask yourself this question…” Would I do it if my dad was here? “, He said. “Think about what you did before you did it.”
Asked by John Quinones during our post-scene interview why he thought it was important to step in, he replied, “It’s important to know that you don’t have to do all of these things to get to where you are. want to happen in life. “
As the scene unfolded, two women shared differing opinions. In support of Sperduto, one of the women exclaimed: “Go ahead, girl!”
The enthusiastic and supportive dinner was familiar with such arrangements, telling Sperduto: “There are rich men who just want a mate. They just want someone to go to dinner with him.
“She’ll probably be offered, but it’s her choice,” the restaurant added. “But there are people who just want to take care of someone. I don’t see anything really wrong with that as long as you know what your limits are. “
The diner even suggested writing a contract to clarify the boundaries.
But sitting across the table, the friend from the restaurant warned our actor, saying, “I don’t think that’s safe.”
Although the two diners disagree on Sperduto’s plan, the underlying message to the young actor was the same: “Be careful.”
Tune in to “What Would You Do” Tuesdays at 10/9 am on ABC.
