According to EdSource.org, fewer than half of high school students across the country feel they are ready for college and careers. An overwhelming number of students, 87%, want to eventually earn a college degree and land a career. But many believe that their schools are not helping them develop the skills they’ll need to succeed after graduation.

Approximately 30% of college students do not know how to boil an egg and 52% don't know how to change a tire.

To address this issue, Martin County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences presented an 8 week program, #Adulting to the community to educate on topics such as, car maintenance protocol, money and budgeting, cooking, laundry care and cleaning, conflict resolution, proper etiquette, basic sewing, how to be more organized, and how to be a good employee. This program is offered countywide, however it is geared toward High School aged students that are planning to go to college or go directly into their career/job.

This program offers hands-on learning and visual learning experiences. There were a total of 20 students, male and female, participate in the two sessions of this program that have been completed, Car Stuff 101 and Money 101. Car Stuff 101 educated the participants on topics such as how to properly change a tire, check and change your oil, proper filters, and other basic car maintenance information. The volunteers who taught the lesson from our local Fast Change business also discussed ways to save money per year with car maintenance costs. They suggested learning and utilizing this information because it can save you a significant amount of money per year if you do it yourself, rather than having a mechanic or business do it.

As a result of Car Stuff 101, the first session of #Adulting, 20 students learned basic car maintenance procedures. As a result, 90% of participants stated that they would change oil themselves, especially after learning how simple it was to complete. In addition, 1 participant stated that he now makes extra income by changing oil on the weekends or after school for individuals in his family and community.