Education

By Toluwalase Odewenwa, Cypress Park High School (A High School Journalism Network Collaboration)

At Cypress Park High School, the VITAL Life Skills Program is serving up more than just coffee; it's giving lessons in independence, teamwork and community. The program's coffee cart combines practical learning with a fun, engaging experience that celebrates the hard work of young adults preparing for life beyond high school.

Each year the VITAL program hosts several “enterprises,” or student-led projects that stimulate real workplace experiences. These initiatives are designed to help students develop job readiness, communication and social skills through hands-on learning. Taryn Crowe-Harris, a Cypress Park VITAL program leader, explained that these projects play a key role in helping students build confidence while learning how to function successfully in professional settings.

“Every year, the VITAL program engages in things called enterprises,” Crowe-Harris said. “Every Monday and Friday you will see us around campus doing the coffee cart and a few times a year we do special events for staff.”

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From setting up the event to serving food and interacting with staff, the students play an active role in every step of the process. The snack cart is another way for the students to practice their skills. The project not only allows them to practice communication, organization and customer service, but also helps them experience the sense of responsibility and pride that comes from a job well done.

The VITAL program itself is a unique extension of education at Cypress Park. It’s specifically designed for students who have completed their high school graduation requirements but continue attending school to build independence and career readiness. Through real-world experiences, they strengthen important life skills that will support them in achieving employment and long-term success.

“As far as this part of the Life Skills Program, these students have already graduated, so they’re coming back for a work skill, that’s what they call 18-plus,” said Anika Davis, Cypress Park teacher. “They come here and learn different life skills and different things they can do, like cooking. We take them out to different jobs, movie theaters, libraries, parks, wherever we can to volunteer. It’s almost like volunteer work, but they learn a skill, and we hope they’ll get employment from it.”

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For many of the students, these experiences are transformative. They gain practical work experience while learning essential soft skills such as teamwork, responsibility and adaptability. The program also helps students connect with the community, providing a sense of belonging and purpose.

By hosting events that engage both staff and students, the program creates an atmosphere of inclusion and support. It’s an opportunity for the entire school to come together and celebrate the achievements of students who are learning to navigate the world with confidence.

“It gives the staff a chance to come together and support the program,” Crowe-Harris said. “It also gives students the opportunity to grow their abilities and skills as they prepare for the future.” 

Editor's Note: This article was written by Toluwalase Odewenwa, a student at Cypress Park High School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, through a partnership between My Neighborhood News and the District as part of an established high school journalism network collaboration. My Neighborhood News is a proud supporter of local youth and warmly welcomes the opportunity to provide a platform for students to share their work.