Life Skills student, Gisabel Salcedo (far left in this photo) was one of today’s Life Skills class hosts welcoming and introducing our guests from the CVS Health corporate office: from left to right –  Gisabel, Vice President Inventory Management and Analytics, Donna Mumma (sorry, you can barely see Donna to Gisabel’s left), Senior Manager – Central Support/Item Group, Munish Argawal, Inventory Management – Planner, Oscar Martinez, Life Skills junior and today’s co-host, Manny Rivas, CVS Health Pharmacy Director of Inventory Management, Mike Martel,  Rhode Island College sophomore, Hope High Life Skills alum and a 2014 CVS Health summer intern, Jean Rodriguez, and  CVS Health Vice President of Inventory Management, Lou Mercado.

Today’s class featured this statement from CVS Health Vice President, Donna Mumma. “I didn’t know much about Hope High School until I met and worked with Jean Rodriguez and Antoinette Muhammed during their internships at CVS last summer. 

From that experience with Jean and Antoinette, I now associate their brand with the school they came from, your Hope High School, as one in the same – an impressive community of

Singaporean Tino Chow was today’s guest and admirably introduced to our Life Skills class by Olimpia Aldana Perez.  The class was also audited by a visiting professor of Global Studies at Suffolk University, Chad Huemme.

Tino Chow enters the classroom

Olimpia introduces Tino to her classmates

Aileen Rodriguez Jimenez is the first to welcome Tino to the Life Skills class after Olimpia completed her formal introduction.

Tino’s appearance today gave Life Skills students the opportunity to compare the perceptions they formed after reading their textbook, “The Story of Singapore and The Change Agent Who Created It“, with a Singaporean citizen. This activity reinforced this teacher’s admonition to

question what we read and hear, often times, from people who claim to be authorities.  Students are encouraged to do their own research and inquiry before accepting any information as indisputable ‘fact’.

Tino begins to share his story of living in Singapore

Today’s guest was Samantha Rivera, the Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator, for an organization called ‘Year Up Providence’.  ‘Year Up Providence’ is a one-year, intensive training program that provides young adults, ages 18-24, with a combination of hands-on skill development, college credits, and corporate internships. The organization opened its doors in January of 2005.   Today’s Life Skills host was Travis Barbour.

Life Skills host, Travis Barbour, introduces Samantha to the rest of the class.

“If you think you may not be ready for college, there are alternatives.  I am here to tell you about one of them.  It’s called ‘Year Up’.  It’s located in downtown Providence.  ‘Year Up’ essentially trains you for life, as a person, student, job seeker and employee, so when you are ready for the next step in your life, you’re better prepared to take advantage of the opportunities with it.   And, we pay you during the process!”  Samantha explained.

Samantha shares her amazing and inspiring story with the Life Skills students.

Samantha shared her personal story, from the environment she grew up in and the challenges she dealt with along the way, to her experience at ‘Year Up’.   “I went to college after high school and wasn’t ready.  My network was filled with the wrong people and I made some unfortunate decisions. When it came right down to it,

I was missing a ‘WHY’ in my life.   Well, I found my WHY and ‘Year Up’ helped me make the most of it.”

Samantha went on to describe her training at ‘Year Up’ and her eventual internship at the Amica Insurance Company in Lincoln, Rhode Island.  Samantha also shared with the class her present career interests.

Samantha counseled the students not to worry right now if they haven’t been able to decide on a career path.  “It takes time.  And, you’ll probably have different jobs in different industries throughout your life.  There are more and

more people today who have multiple careers.  Our interests and needs change during our life. 

It’s commonplace today for people to have jobs in different industries throughout their lives.   Our

goal now should be to explore different alternatives.  

Internships.  Part time jobs. Field trips like the ones you go on with Mr Cronin to places like CVS and TeeSpring and BIF.  Don’t be shy;

get out of your comfort zone and ask questions.  Each experience gives you an opportunity to learn about different jobs

and careers.   And keep working on building a network of good people who are successful and have great values.  I didn’t always do this;  now I do.  I am very selective about the people in my network.  I want my personal brand to create opportunities for success not eliminate them.”

The class ended with Samantha exchanging business cards with the Life Skills students and opportunities for both students and Samantha to add exceptional, new people to each others’ network.

Samantha exchanges business cards with Hafzat Akanni while Gisabel Salcedo and Olimpia Aldana Perez wait to do the same.

Today’s guest, Margaret Lysy, is the Associate Director of Admissions at one of America’s best colleges, Georgetown University.  Margaret came to share her personal story from growing up in Rhode Island to her current work in the Admissions department at Georgetown and encourage the Life Skills class, some of Hope High’s best and brightest juniors, to consider Georgetown.  Georgetown, as the Life Skills class knows, is the alma mater of a Hope Life Skills alum, Marta Aparicio (Hope High 2010).

Hafzat Akanni (left in photo) served as the Life Skills class host today as she introduces Margaret Lysy to her Life Skills classmates at the beginning of the class.

Margaret acknowledged each student may look for unique qualities in a college.   That unique quality may be a specific course of study like graphic design or accounting.   It might be a school’s study abroad program or it could be a school’s extra curricular programs like theatre or basketball.   Some students may like a large college like Penn State University with 45,000 students or a small school like New England College with just 2,000 students.  Some students may prefer a college located in a city; others may prefer a school in a rural area.  There may be some students who want to stay in Rhode Island while others look out of state.  All

“You should start your search for colleges NOW!  At the same time, search for scholarship dollars.  There’s millions of dollars waiting for someone to apply for;  that someone could be YOU!”

It’s all part of ‘THE ASK’.

Today’s guest was Don Mays, Interim Director of Roger Williams University’s Intercultural Center.   Fernando Perez was the Life Skills class host welcoming Mr Mays to Hope High School and the Life Skills class.

Fernando Perez leads Don Mays into the Life Skills class for our traditional introduction and welcome.

Fernando introduces Don to his classmates.

The Life Skills students converge on Don Mays to welcome him to Hope High School following Fernando’s introduction.

Don Mays began the class sharing his personal story, from his youth in a town a few miles from Ferguson, Missouri, the epicenter

Salyna Rae Anza and Laura Reales.  Salyna from the town of Northborough in Massachusetts and Laura from the country of Columbia in South America.  Two successful students enrolled in Suffolk University’s Entrepreneurial Studies program came to Hope High today to

share their stories of ‘change’, ‘risk’, and ‘entrepreneurship’

and

the ‘perseverance’ and ‘hard work’ each requires.

Jennifer (top left) and Aileen (bottom left) introduce themselves to today’s guests from Suffolk University, Laura (top right) and Salyna prior to today’s Life Skills class.

Our Life Skills class hosts were Jennifer Quenes and Aileen Rodriguez Jimenez.

Aileen and Jennifer escort Laura and Salyna into the Life Skills class for their introduction to the rest of the class.

Jennifer and Aileen introduce Laura and Salyna to their fellow Hope High School Life Skills classmates.

Laura begins sharing her story while Salyna (right of Salyna), Jennifer (left of Laura) and the rest of the class listen.

Laura began today’s conversation. “My transition to Boston from Columbia wasn’t easy.  It was cold!  And, I didn’t know anyone.  Initially, the people in Boston seemed distant.  I really had to push myself out of my comfort zone to meet new people…..Now, Salyna and I are best friends……And

I work very hard to get good grades;

I only got two hours of sleep last night……“.

Salyna’s story was slightly different. “My path to Suffolk was longer.  I didn’t do well in high school.  I decided to go to community college to focus on my studies after high school.  I then worked hard to achieve my academic goals.   My grades were so good that Suffolk University gave me a full scholarship.  Like Laura, I am in the Entrepreneurship program.  I continue to studying long hours as well as having a job.  College is a great experience.  I’m glad I chose Suffolk”.

Laura and Salyna continued their stories about their families and the fact both women are the first to go to college from their families.  Our conversation also turned to respect and the

importance of being ‘on time‘.

“We left this morning at 4:30am to come to Hope High.  We got here early, around 6:30am, so we had breakfast at the Wayland Diner before coming to Hope…… I hate being late.  It’s a sign of disrespect.  Whenever you’re late, it essentially says to the person you’re meeting ‘your time is not important’.  Being late doesn’t help your brand and certainly doesn’t help you get or keep the job you want” Salyna concluded.

Today’s class concluded with our usual networking session at the end of class and the hope of reconnecting with both Salyna and Laura in the near future.

Salyna exchanges business cards with Fernando Perez and Gisabel Salcedo while Salyna’s shares more of her story.

Isabel Romero, Aileen and Laura share a laugh during the Life Skills networking session.

Salyna exchanges business cards with Jessica Dough while Hafzat Akanni (back left in yellow blouse) wait to exchange her business cards and speak with Salyna.

Today’s guest was Junior Jabbe, the Executive Manager of Business Development and Customer Relationships at Banneker Industries in North Smithfield, Rhode Island.   Our ‘Life Skills’ host was Fernando Perez who welcomed Junior to Hope and our ‘Life Skills’ class.

Junior’s story was about ‘change’.

Fernando (left in photo) and ‘Life Skills’ class guest, Junior Jabbe (right)

“I was a ‘knucklehead’. My high school experience started poorly. Bad grades and trouble with the principal.   But then, I found something I became passionate (my ‘Element‘) about.  Or, maybe it found me.  Football.  I enjoyed it;  it made me feel good.   As a result, I worked hard to keep playing.  I became an honor roll student and stayed out of trouble.  I also worked hard in the weight room so I could excel on the field.”

Fernando and the rest of the class listening to Junior’s story about his bright, red socks!