As an automotive worker, customers could come in with loads of questions that need a proper answer: Why can’t the passenger side window roll with the switch on the driver’s side? Why has the engine light been on when it seems like nothing is wrong? Why is the steering wheel shaking? Senior Matthew Chater knows the answers to all of these automotive questions.

In February, Chater got first place in the SkillsUSA AST (automotive service technology) competition and is now competing in the State competition from March 30 to April 1. The SkillsUSA competition is to test a wide variety of different skills needed for work in the future, which can range from automotive repair and engineering to cybersecurity, first aid and even nail care.

“I was doing the automotive one,” Chater said. “I think there was eight or so tests where they would give you a problem or they would tell you ‘Hey, solve this one thing related to automotive stuff,’ and then you’d get scored off of that, on things like accuracy and time.”

Part of the challenge was the time aspect. Not only did it have to be accurate, but also at a good pace. Luckily for Chater, he said, he knew this information well.

“If you finished first, it’s great, but you have to have everything right for it to be top notch,” Chater said. “You could have top-notch scores, but you could have a really slow time and you could be placed at the end. It all comes down to competing with all of that.”

Cars are a common interest for young boys, and for some, it’s mostly because they look cool, go fast or are a way of showing off to others. According to Chater, he’s been interested for as long as he can remember.

“I don’t actually know when, I’d assume when I was really young, something about engines and cars and stuff, it kinda just piqued my interest,” Chater said. “Ever since then, I’ve been doing a whole bunch of stuff, and I’ve rebuilt my car because I bought it as a wrecked car.”

Chater said he has grown to be pretty good at what he does because he was motivated by the experience, the pride he gains and the coolness of automobiles. According to Chater, it’s one of the most fun activities compared to anything else and beats being a cashier at H-E-B as a job – a job which includes working with BMWs, Audis, and Porsches.

“Something about it just clicks for me,” Chater said. “I know what I’m doing, I can understand it, I have a fun time doing it compared to normal stuff. It’s all for experience, and I just love the technical side of it, like the problem solving.”

However, automotive classes close to Chater are only offered at Rouse High School. This means that although he was able to take the right classes for it, his schedule is differs from the average high school student’s. According to Chater, needing to switch between in-person and Zoom classes was a significant annoyance during his sophomore year.

“So I go to Rouse for the automotive classes that they have there, I’ve been doing that since sophomore year,” Chater said. “I was doing some virtual [classes] and then I’d drive to Rouse really fast, do my class, then I’d come back and get on Zoom, so it was a real mess.”

After that year, he had change his schedule to where he was at Cedar Park High School for A days and RHS for B days – vice versa in his senior year. Regardless, Chater said his passion is making him go far and that he is very much enjoying the journey. Now, the next step is going for gold at his upcoming State competition.

“With cars, you’re always gonna have problems, no matter what,”  Chater said.  “It could be a brand new car and they have problems, so I wanna be the person that can say, ‘Hey, I know how to fix that,’ regardless of what it is.”