Today’s Homework: December 4, 2015

1. Read pages 1 through 33 in your textbook, “The Study of Change“. Then, in well written sentences, share the most important thought you took from these pages you read. In other words, was their something specific you read that made you think about ‘change’ in your life?

2. Watch BOTH videos about a remarkable young high school girl, named Kayla Montgomery, who has had to deal with a sudden and grave misfortune in her life. Kayla’s lesson to anyone willing to listen is the importance of ‘attitude’ when dealing with any ‘change’ in one’s life. Tell me

  • if you agree with Kayla’s perspective that a person’s attitude is critical to effectively managing changes in our lives (answer “yes, I agree” or “no, I don’t agree”).
  • If you “agree” with Kayla about the importance of attitude, tell me, in a well written paragraph, why you agree with Kayla and if you have had to manage with your attitude during personal changes while either extending yourself out of your comfort zone or during other challenges, misfortune or tragedy.
  • If you “disagree” with Kayla about the importance of attitude, tell me, in a well written paragraph, why you disagree with Kayla and why your attitude wasn’t important as you were dealing with personal changes while either extending yourself out of your comfort zone or during other challenges, misfortune or tragedy.


3. Explain, in well written sentences, why the author of “A Study of Change” would use this specific photo of Bristol Harbor on the cover of this book.  This photo apparently is a metaphor for the topic of the book.   Please explain why you believe the author chose this specific Richard Benjamin photograph to be on the cover of this book.

4.  Please submit your answers for all the previous questions to Stephen Cronin’s email no later than Wednesday, December 9th.

Today’s Class: November 20, 2016

Today’s guest was Yasah Vezele, a Senior Engineering Test Technician at the Waters Corporation in Milford, MA.  The Life Skills class host welcoming Yasah to Hope High today and introducing her to the classmates was Chanda Nuth.

chandaphoto

Yasah Vezele (left) and Chanda Nuth introduce each other outside the classroom prior to the start of the Life Skills.

chanda1photo

Chanda introduces Yasah to her Life Skills classmates at the beginning of today’s class.

chanda4photo

Elijah Akindolie welcomes Yasah to Hope High after Chanda’s class introduction at the beginning of class.

Don’t ever give up!…Always persevere to try again.  Regardless of the misfortune or challenges you face, don’t give up!”

Yasah shared her story of growing up very comfortably in the country of Liberia as a young girl.  When she was 5, a civil war

chada3photo

Yasah shares her story of perseverance, from the war torn country of Liberia to the streets of Providence, Rhode Island

Today’s Homework: November 20, 2016

1.  On page 14 in the “Development of the American Brand in the Twentieth Century” book,  there is a picture of Malala Yousafzai and a reference to her personal brand.  Malala Yousafzai is a young Pakistani girl, about the same age as many of the you in our Life Skills class, who has developed a strong personal brand by her actions and the quality of her character.   Malala made a commitment to herself to always do what is right, not only for herself and family, but also for other young girls living in her community.  This commitment to integrity, to always do what is right, created Malala’s exceptional personal brand.  Malala’s brand has enabled her to build a personal network of like people, that is, successful people with high integrity.   This network has created significant opportunities for Malala like your network can create for you.  Please watch Malala’s interview with John Stewart of the Daily Show as well as a music video several young women produced to honor Malala

2.  Please state in well written sentences what impressed you the most from Malala’s interview with John Stewart.

Today’s Homework: November 13, 2015

1. Imagine yourself as the owner and CEO of a trucking company.  You learn one day that one of your trucks has had an accident that is explained below.   Please keep in mind, Presidents, CEOs,  supervisors, Principals, managers and people in general are not always expected to solve problems alone.  Good managers collaborate with other smart people within their organizations and sometimes outside their organizations to solve problems.  If you feel inclined to collaborate with any other person to solve this problem, it’s ok and frankly encouraged.   Just tell me me following the well written sentences explaining the solution to the problem the names of the people you collaborated with for the solution.     Here’s the trucking problem:

“A truck driver was driving your delivery truck under an overpass when suddenly he came to a screeching halt.  He wasn’t paying attention and inadvertently drove under an overpass that was just barely as high as the truck.  The truck got stuck; it became wedged so tightly that he could not go forward or backwards.  He called you in your office to say he didn’t know what to do!  He was panicking.  Without damaging either the top of the truck or the overpass in any way, what can you suggest to the driver for him to do to get the company truck unstuck all by himself so he can drive away?”

2. Read the newspaper article I distributed in class today titled “5 Ways Introverts Can Take Networking To The Next Level“.  Check the section I highlighted in yellow.  Please explain in a few well written sentences why this suggestion can be beneficial in building an effective network that can create life time opportunities for you. Delvany is already practicing this suggestion.  Good job Delvany!

3. Change in our Schedule!!  I was informed that our visit to the Langevin Center for Design, Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing on the campus of Rhode Island College has been changed to December 9th.  We’ll leave Hope High around 1:15pm and finish the tour and leave the RIC campus around 4:15pm.   Please let me know in an email if you’re still interested and can attend on December 9th.  I will pass out permission forms next class.

4.  BTW – you were great today in class.  Anna was impressed with your curiosity, your courage to ask questions and the respect and courtesy you extended her.  You continue to make me proud.  Thank you.  By representing yourself, our Life Skills class, Hope High, your families and me so well, your personal brand and the brand of Hope High continues to be stronger creating new and better opportunities for both.

Today’s Class: November 13, 2015

Our guest today was Anna Barcelos, the Director of Marketing for the international software company, Vector Software Inc.   The Life Skills class host of the day who welcomed Anna to Hope High and introduced her to the Life Skills class was Cris Quenes.

Anna 1photo

Anna (left side of photo) and Cris prior to today’s class.  Cris welcomed Anna to Hope High and spent time with her getting information he could use in his introduction of Anna to his classmates at the start of class.

Anna 8photo

Cris introduces Anna to his classmates at the start of today’s Life Skills class.

anna3photo

Immediately following Cris’s introduction of Anna to the class, Djovan Devega leads the class in their personal greetings and welcome to Anna.

Anna began her story describing her company, Vector Software Inc, and her responsibilities there.

anna7photo

Anna begins her story as Djovan and Chanda Nuth listen in.

“Vector is a software company. 

I know you’ve spoken about software in this class before.  In fact, I was told you have a rising software expert in this class named Fernando Perez.  Software, for those of you who don’t know, are mathematical formulas that give instructions to many different things in our lives today.   From operating instructions for our phone, microwave or car to programs that collect and organize

Today’s Homework: November 6, 2015

1. Connect on LinkedIn with Michelle Nguyen, Senior Director of Planning and Analytics PMO at CVS.

linkedin_logo_12. Read today’s post on this web site –  Today’s Class: November 6, 2015, and write a comment in the LEAVE A REPLY section of this web site of your reaction, your opinion of today’s class with Michelle Nguyen.

3.  Read the article I distributed in class today entitled “15 Body Language Secrets of Successful People”.   Please tell me, in ONE well written sentence, which ONE of the 15 suggestions you believe to be the most important.

4. Michelle today listed 2 adjectives – persistence and kindness – she hoped people think of when they reflect on her personal brand.  List 2 adjectives which you believe most people NOW relate to your personal brand.

5. Please let me know if you would like to accompany me on a field trip on a Monday or Wednesday to be determined in December to Rhode Island College to observe the school’s new Robotics and 3D Printing center called The Langevin Center for Design, Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing.  We will leave Hope High at 1:30pm on a bus and then leave Rhode Island College at 4:30pm.   If you have a suggestions for a specific day in December, please let me know.

6.  Finally, please give me some constructive criticism on how I, as your teacher, could have improved today’s class.  Thank you.

7.  Please complete this homework electronically to my email address by Tuesday, November 10, midnight (12am).  Thank you.

Today’s Class: November 6, 2015

Today’s Hope High Life Skills guest was the Senior Director of Planning and Analytics at CVS (PMO), Michelle Nguyen.  Our host for today’s class, responsible for welcoming Michelle to Hope High School and introducing her to the Life Skills class, was Delvany Soares.

michelle 11photo

Michelle Nguyen (right) and Delvany Soares. Delvany welcomed Michelle before class to Hope High School today.

michelle 2photo

Delvany leads Michelle into today’s Life Skills class

michelle 3photo

Delvany introduces Michelle to her classmates at the start of today’s Life Skills class.

Michelle’s story began with her journey as a 15 year old Viet Namese citizen to America, first to residential Virginia and then onto inner city Philadelphia.  “It was culture shock for me. 

I was nervous, sometimes fearful. 

michelle 6photo

Michelle begins her personal story with Chanda Nuth (to the right of Michelle) and Alaendry Tavares (to the right of Chanda) listening intently.

Our home in Philadelphia was in a poor and dangerous area.  We had a bullet shot into our home one day.  Unfortunately, my high school had lots of gangs and a strong police presence.  But,

Today’ Homework: October 30, 2015

1. Establish an account profile (free of charge) on LinkedIn.com.  Once established, connect with me, Stephen Cronin, on LinkedIn.   Please complete this assignment by Tuesday, Novmeber 3, 2015.  Thank you.

linkedin_logo_12.  Read the article distributed in class today titled “The Brand Called You” written by Tom Peters and previously published in Fast Company Magazine.  In no more than a 5 sentence paragraph with perfect spelling, good grammar and sound sentence structure, state your impressions of author Tom Peters’ concept of ‘Personal Brand‘.   For instance, what parts of Tom Peters’ position on Personal Brand did you most agree with?   Was there anything Tom Peters wrote about on Personal Brand you were not aware of or surprised you?   Was there anything Tom Peters wrote about on Personal Brand that you would immediately embrace and do as you continue to build your Personal Brand?  Was there anything about Tom Peters’ concept of Personal Brand you disagreed with ?  Please have this assignment emailed to me by Tuesday, October 27, 2015.  If you were not able to attend today’s class, make sure you get Tom Peters’ article from me next class and email your response to me as soon as possible.  Thank you.

Today’s Class: October 30, 2015

Today’s guest was George Ortiz.  George is a successful entrepreneur with experience in many different fields.  He has been the owner of a successful consulting company working for major brands like McDonalds, TWOBOLT and Coca Cola as well as serving in the United States Marines.  He is presently the Founder and President of the Elisha Project, an international community service organization supporting the neediest people in places like Providence, Atlanta and other cities throughout the world.   Our Hope High Life Skills host today was Elijah Akindolie.

george1photo

Elijah Akindolie (right) introducing himself to George Ortiz outside of the Life Skills classroom prior to introducing George to his Life Skills classmates.

george2photo

Elijah stepping out of his comfort zone to introduce George Ortiz to his classmates at the beginning of today’s Life Skills class.

george3photo

Ayobami Bankole (with hand extended to George Ortiz) greets George with a firm handshake, great eye contact and a smile following Elijah’s introduction of George to the entire Life Skills class. Several other students wait to greet George as well.

George began the class speaking about his upbringing in Brooklyn’s

Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood (known as Bed-Stuy) located in the north central part of Brooklyn in New York City.  “Raised mainly by my grandmother. 

Today’s Homework: October 23, 2015

1.  Establish an account profile (free of charge) on LinkedIn.com.  Once established, connect with me, Stephen Cronin, on LinkedIn.   Please complete this assignment by Tuesday, October 27, 2015.  Thank you.

linkedin_logo_12.  Read the article distributed in class today titled “The Brand Called You” written by Tom Peters and previously published in Fast Company Magazine.  In no more than a 5 sentence paragraph with perfect spelling, good grammar and sound sentence structure, state your impressions of author Tom Peters’ concept of ‘Personal Brand‘.   For instance, what parts of Tom Peters’ position on Personal Brand did you most agree with?   Was there anything Tom Peters wrote about on Personal Brand you were not aware of or surprised you?   Was there anything Tom Peters wrote about on Personal Brand that you would immediately embrace and do as you continue to build your Personal Brand?  Was there anything about Tom Peters’ concept of Personal Brand you disagreed with ?  Please have this assignment emailed to me by Tuesday, October 27, 2015.  If you were not able to attend today’s class, make sure you get Tom Peters’ article from me next class and email your response to me as soon as possible.  Thank you.