MasterMine University Life Skills Academy

Program Dates : October 7th 2026 - June 6th 2027

Why the Life Skills Academy?

Too often, young people graduate without the practical tools they need to thrive as adults. MasterMine University fills that gap with engaging classes that develop confidence, independence, leadership, and Self-Mastery. Through a blend of virtual classes, in-person sessions, and bonus Sunday programs, students gain skills they will carry for a lifetime.

🎯 Our Goals

Strengthen Academic & Personal Growth – Build reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking through our Book Club and Black History courses.
Develop Healthy Habits & Emotional Intelligence – Encourage balance, resilience, and self-awareness through Yoga & Mindfulness (with journaling) and Communications.
Sharpen Focus & Strategy – Build patience, planning, and problem-solving through Chess, including the chance to compete in our MasterMine Chess Tournament for trophies and medals.
Celebrate Culture & Identity – Deepen pride and awareness with Black History, taught by world-renowned historian and educator Professor Kaba Kamene.

Build Financial & Entrepreneurial Skills – Teach students how to manage money, understand investing, and explore business through our Business & Financial Literacy course.
Expand Career Awareness – Expose students to diverse opportunities with weekly guest speakers in Career Exploration, while teaching the art of asking great questions.
Teach Confidence & Practical Safety – Provide students with real tools to protect themselves through Self-Defense training.

💻 Virtual Courses

♟️ Chess

Chess is more than a game it strengthens focus, patience, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and decision-making. Our Chess Class gives students an engaging way to exercise their minds while learning an important lifelong skill through:

Step-by-step instruction that teaches students the rules, strategies, tactics, and fundamentals of chess
Games and challenges that strengthen critical thinking, concentration, planning, patience, and problem-solving
Peer-to-peer learning where students learn from one another by playing, observing different strategies, and discussing their moves

Students build confidence and sportsmanship as they compete, learn from mistakes, develop new strategies, and challenge one another to become stronger players and thinkers.

💵 Business & Financial Literacy

Students gain financial confidence and entrepreneurial thinking by exploring:

Budgeting, saving, credit, debt, and investing basics
Business concepts like entrepreneurship, supply and demand, marketing, branding, and customer service
The Stock Market Game — researching companies, making trades, and learning risk vs. reward
Competitions and challenges, with opportunities to win real money prizes

💼 Career Exploration

Every week, a guest speaker shares insights from careers in business, health, technology, trades, arts, sports, and leadership. Students:

Hear real-world stories from diverse professionals
Learn the art of questioning — how to ask thoughtful, respectful, and insightful questions
Gain exposure to both traditional careers and entrepreneurial ventures

📖 Black History

Students go beyond the textbook to discover the richness, resilience, and brilliance of Black history. Guided by world-renowned historian Kaba Kamene, they explore:

Ancient African civilizations to modern movements
Innovation, leadership, and the fight for justice
Untold stories of everyday people and cultural legacy

🏫 In-Person Courses

🥊 Self-Defense

Self-defense is about more than learning how to protect yourself physically—it is about confidence, discipline, awareness, self-control, and knowing how to respond under pressure. Our Self-Defense class helps students build the mindset and practical skills needed to handle difficult, unexpected, and emergency situations.

Students learn:

Basic self-defense techniques and movements that improve confidence, coordination, and personal safety
Situational awareness and how to recognize, avoid, and respond to potentially dangerous situations
Discipline, focus, self-control, and the importance of knowing when to act—and when to walk away
Practical survival and emergency-response skills that help students remain calm and think clearly under pressure

Our goal is to help students become more confident, disciplined, aware, and prepared while reinforcing that true strength means having the ability to protect yourself without looking for conflict.

🧘🏾 Yoga & Mindfulness

Young people today are constantly managing school pressure, social media, relationships, responsibilities, and everyday stress. Our Yoga & Mindfulness class gives students practical tools to slow down, understand their emotions, manage stress, and take care of their mental and physical well-being.

Led by an experienced yoga instructor, students participate in:

Yoga poses, stretches, breathing exercises, and movement activities that improve flexibility, balance, body awareness, and relaxation
Guided meditation and mindfulness exercises that help students strengthen focus, emotional regulation, and stress management
Journal activities that encourage students to reflect on their goals, emotions, relationships, challenges, gratitude, and personal growth
Healthy coping strategies students can use at school, at home, and throughout their everyday lives

Our goal is to help students develop greater self-awareness, confidence, calm, and emotional control while teaching them lifelong habits for protecting their mental, emotional, and physical health.

🍳 Cooking & Culinary Skills

Cooking is an essential life skill that gives young people greater independence, confidence, creativity, and responsibility. Our Cooking & Culinary Skills class gives students hands-on experience in the kitchen while teaching them skills they can use for the rest of their lives.

Working alongside Chef Sam, students learn:

How to prepare a variety of meals while developing foundational cooking and food-preparation skills
Kitchen safety, cleanliness, organization, and the proper use of common cooking tools and equipment
How to follow recipes, measure ingredients, manage their time, and work through the cooking process from start to finish
Teamwork, patience, responsibility, creativity, and confidence through hands-on culinary experiences

Our goal is to help students become more comfortable and capable in the kitchen while developing the independence and practical life skills needed to prepare food for themselves and their families.

🎤 Speak Up: Communication & Public Speaking

The ability to communicate effectively can instantly change how people see you—and how you see yourself. Yet many young people are never formally taught how to speak with confidence, present themselves professionally, read body language, or communicate their ideas clearly. Our Speak Up class gives students practical communication skills they can use for the rest of their lives.

Students develop skills in:

Public speaking and presenting ideas clearly, confidently, and effectively in front of others
Job interview preparation, including answering common interview questions, making strong first impressions, and communicating their strengths
Body language, eye contact, posture, voice projection, tone, and other nonverbal communication skills
Starting and maintaining conversations, introducing themselves professionally, and communicating with adults and peers
Building confidence and learning how to express thoughts, opinions, and ideas in different social, academic, and professional settings

Our goal is to help students find their voice and understand that how they communicate can open or close doors. Strong communication skills can improve relationships, create opportunities, build leadership, and give young people the confidence to speak up for themselves wherever life takes them.

💡 Tuition Options

$ 100 Monthly

Live evening classes per month (1 hr 40 min each = 3 hrs 20 min total)
Learn from home with interactive lessons
Perfect for consistency and convenience