Today’s class began with a challenge.

Students were asked to determine our guest’s job by asking questions which he could only respond with a ‘yes‘ or ‘no‘ answer.

Today’s class was

a follow up exercise to our reading of the Life Skills textbook, “Questions“.

In other words, this class offered students an opportunity to extend themselves ‘out of their comfort zone’ to ask questions to a successful business person in front of their peers and teachers.   Not an easy proposition.   However, the student response was impressive.

Rosa Rodriguez Ortiz escorts Sean Larkin into today’s Life Skills classroom while Rosa’s fellow students stand as a sign of respect to our guest.

Rosa introduces Sean to her classmates

Shakira Figueroa leads the class in an individual greeting and welcome.  Sean’s reaction was interesting.  “Your students made me feel welcome.  Good firm handshakes.  Great eye contact and smiles.  This was good.  Helped me relax.”

Today’s guest was Manny Rivas, Hope High 2016 graduate,

a 2015 Life Skills graduate, and present Providence College business and marketing major in his sophomore year.   Today’s Hope Life Skills host was Laisha Mendez.

Laisha Mendez introduces Providence College sophomore, Manny Rivas, to the Life Skills class.

Manny responds to Zidany Fatuda‘s (orange sweatshirt) question

Manny spoke about his freshman year experience at Providence College.  “If I could recommend a few things,

I would encourage your students, Mr Cronin, to be more focused on math, reading and writing while they’re in high school.  

Math class is intense at Providence College.  And, my professors are assigning a few books a week to read!   I’m always writing too.  Your Hope Life Skills students really need to be more serious about their math, reading and writing courses while they’re still at Hope High School if they want to be successful in college.“

Manny described his college experience, his roommate and how and why he decided upon Providence College.  “I’ve established a schedule I follow every class day;  a time to study, go to class and have fun. I have a diverse network.  My college roommate is white, from Connecticut, from a very rich family.  He’s become one of my best friends!

Providence College is looking for qualified students of color.  Providence College understands the value of a diverse student community

and they’re offering college scholarships to create a diverse Providence College.  I encourage all of you today to push out of your comfort zone to meet new people, regardless of their ethnic group or income level.  

The Hope Life  Skills guest protocol was cancelled for today’s class!

No formal greeting with the standard Hope Life Skills extended handshake, confident eye contact, and disarming smile followed by  ‘welcome to Hope High School‘ by the day’s Life Skills student host outside the classroom in the school corridor for this day’s guest.  No escort into the classroom.

No formal introduction by the day’s Hope Life Skills student host to the class.

A few students entering the classroom who saw the stranger sitting in the shadows of a corner of the classroom went up to extend a handshake and say ‘hello’.   The

reason –

Natalie Hogan speaks to the Hope High and LaSalle Academy students about her career path from Sculpture major at the Rhode Island School of Design to ‘Futurist’ at Hasbro and now her latest opportunity at DataRobot.

 The Hope Life Skills class rolled out the welcome carpet for 14 students from LaSalle Academy and more than 20 professionals from business, academia and non-profits for a

conversation on the impact artificial intelligence, AI, is having on today’s jobs and future career opportunities for our Hope and LaSalle students.

Sara Jackson and Mohamadou Mbaye (standing) welcome The Future Forum guests to Hope Hope School.

“The conversation did not focus on the jobs being eliminated but new opportunities, some yet to be created, by artificial intelligence

and the skills and mindset to realize them” commented Life Skills teacher Stephen Cronin.

Today’s class was Part 1 in a series of three classes focusing on our students’ preparedness for their future.

The Hope Life Skills class first stop on their ‘future readiness tour’ was LaSalle Academy, a private high school in Providence, Rhode Island.   Our mission at LaSalle today was, primarily, to

Hope Life Skills students on the walkway leading to the main entrance of LaSalle Academy in Providence.

extend to the LaSalle students an invitation to the Hope Life Skills “Future Forum”, hosted by the Life Skills class at Hope High on May 17th starting at 9:30am.

Cover of The Future Forum brochure distributed to the LaSalle Academy students today. This Syd Meade work of art is also the cover of the assigned reading for the Future Forum. LaSalle students were given a copy of “The Future” book to read prior to The Future Forum.

One of Industrial Designer and Futurist artist, Syd Mead’s, images of the future.

Today Life Skills class was a ‘prep day‘ for upcoming Life Skills classes.   There are a number of classes in the coming weeks and months where the Life Skills class will be traveling to remote sites for class.   There is also a major event planned for May 17th called “The Future Forum“.   Hope Life Skills will host visiting students from LaSalle Academy as well a 4 future oriented business people who will share their perspectives on The Future and guide integrated small groups of Hope and LaSalle students in a collaborative activity to identify trends to exploit for their future career opportunities.  Stay tuned.