Generation Z’s latest favorite activity: turning nouns into verbs. The new favorite verb: adulting. 

“Adulting Day is an opportunity for seniors to get the answers to the questions that they have about life and haven’t necessarily been taught in high school,” Coppell High School instructional coach Derryl Lee said. “School is so focused on memorizing facts, many times, that we forget that when we have to go out in the real world, we have to learn how to change a tire in an emergency or learn about safety, or we need to learn about how to open a bank account.”

For seniors heading out into the ‘real world’ in the upcoming months, those entering a land of no parental guidance, learning to adult is essential. The term itself creates some distance between these seniors and actual adults, these seniors differentiating from those who adult all day. #AdultingDay teaches them the skills necessary by allowing seniors to choose three classes they feel they knew the least about.

CHS senior Julianna Ciskowski took classes today on stress management and time management.

“After this summer I go to college, away from my parents and what they tell me to do,” Ciskowski said. “I took the classes today I thought I would need the most help with, that I knew the least about, and I know how to do some stuff I couldn’t do without my parents earlier.”

Seniors were sent surveys in order to determine the subjects on which the classes were available. Outside professionals were invited to teach students about their specialties, such as nutritionists coming to talk about healthy eating or apartment managers coming to talk about leasing an apartment.

The idea came forth from CHS money matters teacher Megan Mackin, who heard about the program on the radio from a school in Kentucky. 

“Everything taught today was what we need to be thriving, functioning adults,” Mackin said. “I thought this would be awesome to bring to Coppell for our seniors. From a teaching perspective, this is real life. As a teacher we want all these seniors to be able to thrive when they leave, and it’s hard to learn all these skills when you’re in class all day.”

Endorsed by CHS Principal Laura Springer, staff members are hoping to expand in the continuing years.

“This year we took over the D and E Halls, and we had every room full, while all the seniors participated in three sessions,” Lee said. “Next year, we’re looking at possibly even having a full day for adulting.”

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