What started as a way for students to learn skills that would help them in the future, turned into a year-long “Adulting 101” series to prepare junior and senior students at Katy ISD’s Miller Career and Technology Center (MCTC) for the real world. This inaugural series, spearheaded by MCTC Librarian Julie Trevino, runs from October 2022 to March 2023 and includes an afterschool component, along with monthly lessons during the school day and weekly “life hacks” included in the school’s scrolling announcements to ensure students are prepared for life after graduation. Four different topics will be covered in the Adulting 101 afterschool series: automotive care in October, computer care and road safety in November, a culinary arts cooking class in January, and life skills such as first aid and animal care in March.
Earlier this month, MCTC held its first Adulting 101 session for automotive care. Automotive teachers Christopher Burkett, David Shair, and Jason Halbison taught students how to properly change a tire, jump start a car, check fluid levels, and provided tips for what to do when the unexpected happens on the road.
Alongside the automotive teachers, Matt Schomburg, a local State Farm agent, spoke with the students about best practices to follow if they are ever in an accident.
“Many of them are first-time drivers,” Burkett said. “Our goal is to empower students to be confident in knowing what to do in tricky situations and to prepare them to be able to understand what a mechanic would tell them.”
Students loved the hands-on learning experience. Each student was given a pamphlet that can be kept in their glove compartments for further reference. Step-by-step instructions for changing a tire and jump starting a vehicle are included in the pamphlets, as well as QR codes for roadside emergency and first aid kits.
The next Adulting 101 session, covering computer care and road safety, will take place on Wednesday, November 16 at MCTC. During this session, students will learn how to clean their personal technology devices and the importance of creating strong passwords. Students will also be taught street law information like how to handle routine traffic stops. Taught by the MCTC Cyber Security, Computer Maintenance and Law Enforcement teachers, as well as a few current students, this informative session is another great opportunity to guide students in their post-graduation lives as they grow closer to adulthood.
More information on the Adulting 101 series, future sessions and how to register can be found online at www.katyisd.org/MCTC.
