On changing tires for people [View all]

[noamnety]

I work with teens, and one of the things I've discovered is most of them - male or female - have never been taught how to change a tire. I've had students track me down outside of school to tell me they have a flat and don't know what to do.

I could change it for them, but what I do instead is talk them through the process - but have them do the actual work, so they know for next time. It's really not any different than how I would want them to learn in a classroom - learn by doing. That way the next time they have a flat they won't feel scared or incompetent, or have to wait to be rescued, or be at the mercy of a stranger, which has an element of risk.

Once, a group of my students found me while I was performing at a Rennfest. They had driven the last few miles on a flat, with the idea that once they were there they could find me and I would bail them out. I went out to the parking lot with them during my break. We got out their tire iron from the trunk and a guy came over determined to help us out by doing it for us. I waved him away and told him we got this. I really wanted the kids to do it. He kept insisting he would do it for them. In the end, amidst my kids' shocked faces, I held up the tire iron in a threatening gesture, while wearing my floor length red velvet gown - full rennfest costuming - and told him to leave us alone. The thing I want to emphasize though is that it wasn't about sexism on my end at all, it was about the difference between treating newly licensed teens like they aren't able to do simple tasks that every driver should know, vs. empowering them.

I've had kids follow me on their spare back to my house, then I've shown them how to find the leak, pull the nail if that's the cause, and how to plug it.

Sometimes things are about being polite (holding a door). Sometimes things are about realizing someone is lacking confidence or knowledge to perform a basic task. Next time you all come across someone (male or female) who's stranded because they don't know how to change a tire, offer to help - but think about helping by talking them through all the steps. You'll feel good about helping, and they'll drive away with a feeling of accomplishment.