Today’s guest was Olivia Rodrigues,

Lisanyis Gonzalez (left) and Olivia Rodrigues meet before class.

an entrepreneur, and a fashion and wardrobe consultant.

Today’s host was Lisanyis Gonzalez.

After Lisanyis welcomed Olivia to Hope High, Lisanyis presented Olivia with her business card. Perfect networking strategy, Lisanyis!

Lisanyis introduces Olivia to her classmates at the start of today’s class.

Janita DeJesus welcomes Olivia with a “bonjour!!!!!” after Lisanyis’ introduction.

Mariana Guerrero Pimental welcomes Olivia to our class with a smile, firm handshake and great eye contact.

Olivia begins to share her fascinating story, from her birth and upbringing in the African country of Cote Ivoire until the age of 16 when she came to the United States.

“Mr Cronin, before I start, there were many

impressive introductions and greetings.  Janita spoke to me in French!  Wow!

That made me feel comfortable right away. 

She obviously took time to learn about my background.

And, Yaritza had a firm, very professional handshake;  that was impressive.  Everyone had great eye contact and a smile.  I am impressed”  Olivia commented.

Today’s guest was Nan Quinlan.

Nan is the former Training and Development Manager at TACO, Inc in Cranston, Rhode Island and presently a senior career consultant at Transitions Solutions, a private company which helps individuals with their career choices and opportunities.

Today’s host was Nayely Furcal.

Nayely (left) greets Nan Quinlan before class for Nan’s second appearance to the Hope Life Skills class this year. Nan visited our class on November 3rd for a presentation on job interviewing skills.

Nayely introduces Nan to her classmates prior to the beginning of today’s class.

Following Nayely’s introduction, David Ojekunle welcomes Nan to the Life Skills class as other students wait to do the same.

Before Nan began her presentation on building a great resume, she shared the conversation she had with Nayely before class.  “After Nayely told me she was interested in an interior design career, I spoke to her about the possibilities of owning her own interior design company.  Using artificial intelligence and today’s software, Nayely could help people relocate to different parts of the country by presenting them with designs for the inside of their new homes.   Her clients could ask Nayely to either buy new furniture or use furniture from their previous home to create a design for the inside of their new home: the placement of furniture, where to hang pictures and the placement of other art or knickknacks, carpeting alternatives and lighting fixtures.  Nayely could create her designs using architectural software and then send her designs digitally to her clients. Clients could review Nayely’s designs on their phones or laptops.  Nayely’s office could be anywhere, from her Rhode Island home or from her Paris, France condominium” Nan said.   Sounds pretty good to me, Nayely.

Nan begins her description of a great job resume.

” Your resume needs to use words that identify skills you have that a company wants”

Maya Taveras Cordeiro

Today’s guest was Maya Tavares Cordeiro,

the Founder and Owner of Bristol Looms.

Today’s Hope Life Skills host was Nayely Furcal Marte.

Nayely (left) meets Maya before the start of today’s class. Please notice the scarf Nayely is wearing.   It is one of Maya’s scarfs made out of bamboo!!!!

Nayely introduces Maya to her classmates at the start of today’s Hope Life Skills class.

Ashlely Charles welcomes Maya to today’s class immediately following Nayely’s introduction as other students wait to extend a similar greeting to Maya.   As you can see, Ashley’s greeting is perfect – a welcoming greeting, great eye contact, a genuine smile and firm handshake.

Claudia Cardozo, the Community Development Manager at Coastway Community Bank and

President of her own consulting company, Cardozo Coaching, was the guest of today’s Hope Life Skills class.

Claudia shares her story of ‘fearless’ focus and resilience in overcoming obstacles for success.

Marianella Galan Jimenez was today’s class host.

Marianella welcomes Claudia to her Hope Life Skills class and exchanges business cards in the process as students await her introduction inside the classroom.

Today’s guest was Jeff Sparr, Founder of Peace Love,

Jeff Sparr is greeted by today’s class host, Nayely Furtado, before the start of today’s class

a non-profit foundation whose mission is to help people dealing with the challenges of mental illness.   From depression and anxiety to obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD),

Peace Love helps those afflicted by some form of mental illness to create peace of mind through art

and storytelling.  “I’ve suffered from OCD and anxiety since I was in college.  It took a while before someone suggested I try painting to help me deal with it.  So I did” said Sparr.  “Despite having no artistic training,

painting made me feel better. 

Nayely introduces Jeff Sparr to her classmates to start today’s class.

I thought this might help others suffering from mental illness too.”  So, Jeff started Peace Love.

Ayo Onajide welcomes Jeff with a firm handshake, good eye contact and “thanks for coming to our class” following Nayely’s introduction.

Today’s guest was Nan Quinlan,

a professional training and coaching consultant and contractor.  In other words,

Nan helps people find and get the jobs they aspire to.

Nan also helps companies find and keep the best employees in their companies.   Furthermore, Nan trains people to maximize their BRANDS to find and keep the jobs they like.

Nelson Castillo (right) welcomes Nan Quinlan to today’s Hope Life Skills class.

Nelson does a great job introducing Nan to his classmates at the start of today’s class.

Walter Jimenez greets Nan following Nelson’s introduction.

Today’s guest,

Tino Chow, was arguably one of the most interesting guests

who have visited our Life Skills class.  Our interest in Tino was created not only his

passion for design and entrepreneurship

and his appreciation of the exceptional opportunities the United States of America extends to those who live here but also by Tino’s fascinating story of being

born in the fascinating Asian country of Singapore and educated in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong.

Jonasia Brown (right) welcomes Tino Chow to Hope High and the Life Skills class and gives Tino her business card in the process before the start of today’s class.

Jonasia introduces Tino to the rest of her classmates

Following Jonasia’s introduction of Tino to the class, the class approaches Tino and individually welcomes him to the Life Skills class. Walter Jimenez welcomes Tino with a smile, great eye contact, a firm handshake and a ‘thanks for coming to our class today’ greeting.

1.  This assignment is an important preparation for our conversation with next week’s guest, Tino Chow.   This assignment is similar to what smart, successful people do when they prepare for a job interview or attending a networking opportunity like you will do on December 5th at our Future Forum, i.e being prepared to create an opportunity for success.  As a result, please read pages 1 through 46 in “The Story of Singapore and The Change Agent Who Created It“.  THEN, answer the following questions and send them to my email address ANY TIME BEFORE Tuesday, October 24th, 11:59pm.   This is a lot of information to read and digest in a short period of time. Here’s a suggestion  which may be of benefit.  Skim each page from page 1 through 46.  In other words, when you are assigned a reading with lots of graphics (photos and maps) and breakout text (some words on each page printed in a larger, bolder font) like this textbook, skim or go through each page JUST looking at the graphics (maps and photos), reading the explanation beneath the graphics and only the breakout words in the bold, large fonts on each page.   After doing this, you’ll have a basic understanding of the textbook story.  After skimming, you can go back to read the entire text in greater detail.   This is just a suggestion.  Now, here are the questions to answer after you skim the entire reading or you read the entire text.

1. Go to page 51 in “The Story of Singapore and The Change Agent Who Created It” text book.  Read the characteristics of COUNTRY #1 and COUNTRY #2.  Then, tell me which country you’d rather live in.
2. If George Washington is arguably the most important person in the history of the United States, name the person who is the most important person in the history of Singapore.
3. The cost of an average automobile is $25,000 and the cost of a government driver’s license is $70 in the state of Rhode Island; the state of Rhode Island is one (1) of fifty (50) states in the country of the United States of America.  These two fees – $25,000 and $70 – make the combined cost for buying a car and paying for a driver’s license in Rhode Island is $25,070.  Let’s assume the cost of a typical automobile in Singapore is the same as Rhode Island, $25,000. (Tino will let us know on Friday.)  There is, however, a different cost for getting a driver’s license in Singapore.  What is the combined cost of a person’s $25,000 car and a government driver’s license in Singapore?  (The information to make this calculation is found by reading page 35.)
4. The ANNUAL cost of tuition at the University of Rhode Island is approximately $14,000 for a Rhode Island resident.  What is the tuition cost of one of Singapore’s government universities for a Singaporean citizen?  (The information to answer this question is found by reading page 37.)
5. The President of the United States is paid a salary of $400,000 a year.  Please state the annual salary of Singapore’s Prime Minister (a title similar to America’s President). (The information to answer this question is found by reading pages 27 and 28.)
6. What is the official language of Singapore?
7. Which country, Singapore or the United States, do you think has less graffiti on buildings, bridges and other structures?  AND, explain why you think your answer is correct.  (The information to answer this question is found by reading pages 31, 32, 33.)
8.  What does the Singaporean holiday, National Harmony Day, celebrate?  (The information to answer this question is found by reading page 16, 17, 26, and 27.)
9.  In which country, Singapore or the United States of America, does the average person make more money, live a healthier and longer life, and experience less crime?  (The information to answer this question is found by reading pages 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, and 33.)
10. Which country, Singapore or the United States of America, would you rather live in?  AND, explain why you feel this way.
11. Please send me ONE question you would like to ask next week’s guest, Tino Chow, a Singaporean, about his country of Singapore.
12. Like the United States of America, Singapore has many different ethnic groups of people living in the country.   The three (3) major Singaporean ethnic groups are Chinese, Indigenous Malays (like the USA’s American Indians) and Asian Indians (from the country of India). The three (3) main ethnic groups in America are Caucasian (white), African American, and Latino (Hispanic).  America has had only one African American President in the 200+ year history of the country and no Latino Presidents, yet.  No Native American (Indian) Presidents, yet.  Please give me the reason why there is a better chance of Singapore having a Prime Minister from each of their three (3) main ethnic groups before their 200th anniversary as a country.  (The information to answer this question is found by reading page 17.  Read this page carefully and you can determine the answer.)
    

    Tino Chow (right in photo) networking with Hope Life Skills student, Travis Barbour, after sharing his personal story during a Life Skills class in 2014.