Please respond to the following questions electronically with perfect spelling and grammar and good sentence structure to my email address: scronin@twobolt.com
1. What did you like most about the trip to Roger Williams University?
2. Did anything you see, observe or hear during the tour of the RWU campus surprise you?
3. Is there anything you would recommend for the next tour of a university campus by our Life Skills class?
Fernando Perez, Raymond Perez, Olimpia Aldana Perez, Manny Rivas, Gisabel Salcedo, Hafzat Akani, Jessica Dough, Richard Quinnila Gonzales, Zach Reyes and Joan Tueros traveled to Bristol, Rhode Island for a day of inquiry and discovery at Roger Williams University. The
Students also had an opportunity to see first hand the benefits of networking as our University tour guide, Juan, seemed to know everyone on campus! At Roger Williams University,
THE man on campus , our tour guide, Juan!!!!! It seems Juan knew everyone and everyone knew Juan. Amazing!
Juan leads Life Skills students to the Athletic Center which featured a fitness center for all students, pool and basketball arena.
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
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,
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
It’s commonplace today for people to have jobs in different industries throughout their lives. Our
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;
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
1. Imagine you are applying to a college you really wish to attend. As Margaret Lysy, the Associate Director of Admissions at Georgetown University, informed us today, the mission of our interview and essay is to convince, WITH CONFIDENCE AND HUMILITY, the University’s Admission staff how our special attributes, talents or skills can enrich their University community. IN A WELL WRITTEN PARAGRAPH with perfect spelling, grammar and punctuation and exceptional sentence structure (no run-on sentences!!!), identify your special attributes, talents or skills. Explain, WITH CONFIDENCE AND HUMILITY, how your talents, attributes or skills will enable you to contribute to their college community and, in the process, enable other students potentially experience a more fulfilling, educational experience. For example, Alexander Solzhenitsyn Romanov is a high school senior from Jersey City, New Jersey, with a 3.25 high school GPA, fluent in English and Russian and is the lead violinist in the school orchestra who wishes to major in computer programming and Russian (language). Alexander was born in Russia and emigrated to the United States when he was 12 years old. Alexander’s essay COULD begin as follows:
I appreciate the time taken to consider my application to Georgetown University. I truly believe my background and skills will enable me to contribute to Georgetown’s student community during my undergraduate studies and after as a successful alum. I spent the formative years of my life in Russia which has often found itself in an opposing position to the United States on the Security Council of the United Nations. In every class, dormitory conversation or community service project I find myself, my knowledge of Russia’s culture, language and history will enable me to offer a unique and credible perspective for thought provoking conversations with fellow students and professors. I have learned Georgetown appreciates the value ethnic, political and cultural diversity brings to the education of its students. My life experience and perspective can highten empathy within the student body and provide greater diversity in collaborative activities. Secondly, my research of Georgetown’s extracurricular clubs revealed a Georgetown Coding Club which I would love to be part of if fortunate enough to be admitted to the University. Finally, I also plan to audition for one of the school’s instrumental groups. I performed in the Jersey City Russian Junior Symphony during ……………………………….. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application for admittance to Georgetown University. ”
I hope you get the idea of what I am looking for in your essay. This assignment is due NO LATER than Friday, April, 24th. Thank you. I look forward to reading your well written paragraph.
Margaret Lysy (center), the Associate Director of Admissions at Georgetown University, is escorted into Friday’s Life Skills class by the class’s host of the day, Hafzat Akanni (left in the red blouse).
An interesting article about our Hope High Life Skills program was recently posted on GoLocalProv by Lauri Lee. Thought you all might be interested.
The article is a tribute to everyone who has participated for the past 11 years in the program. It’s been an unselfish community effort from Rhode Island’s best leaders to share personal stories of success with Hope High’s remarkable students. In the process, great Hope kids find, what Ken Robinson calls, their ‘Element’, i.e. what they’re good at and like to do. A foundation of confidence is then built for them to facilitate measured risk taking, get out of their comfort zones and keeping failure where it belongs – as an opportunity for learning valuable lessons. It doesn’t get better than this; kids learning life lessons and feeling good about themselves along the way. Guests to the class help the students build their networks and personal brands, understand the value of humility and the fact giving respect earns respect.
Here are some comments I recently received from community leaders who have been part of the Hope High Life Skills program this year:
“Thank you again for the opportunity to speak to your class. Your have a very unique program and great students! Their professionalism, manners and willingness to be inspired and to learn is something I haven’t seen anywhere else. I’ve done speaking engagements at various universities and organizations, and by far, this is the most rewarding out of all.” Rodrigo Zetina-Yglesias / Director of Operations, Benrus
“The Life Skills Program opened doors that I didn’t even know existed, provided me with a wide network of mentors and leaders, and prepared me for networking events in the ‘real world’. I had the pleasure to be the first student who experienced the National Leadership Forum on Law & CSI in Washington, DC – where I met 200 students from all over United States. Thanks to that initial trip, I also got a tour of one of the most beautiful college campuses – Georgetown University (my alma mater)…….To all the students reading this, remember that anything is possible! The struggles and hardships are part of making progress and creating your own personal brand. Higher education granted me the opportunity to turn my dreams into reality. Keep fighting and challenging yourself because it will pay off in the future! Marta Aparicio, Hope High School 2010, Georgetown University 2014, the Follette Corporation.
“I read about your field trip and was on your website checking it all out. A valuable curricula for the Hope students. It all sounds so exciting and so very important to the students future.” Christina Ricci ’65 Hope High Dollars for Scholars
“Thanks again for having me join your class. I’m always impressed with the great group of talented students. It was a pleasure meeting all of them. Looking forward to hearing more of their ideas on improving your website.” Nick DeCesare, TWOBOLT Creative Director
“I truly was impressed with the firm handshakes, enthusiasm and poise from your students. I love your format – the pre-interview, the introduction by a student, the line-up before and after – you are giving them such wonderful opportunities to practice their interpersonal skills! I only wish we had more time to talk and for them to share more about themselves.” Wendy Lewis, Senior Copywriter, Marketing and Advertising
“the Life Skills Class students – they were so pleasant to have here (at our CVS corporate offices). I was responsible for driving a group of students from the main CVS building over to the building we call the Marketing Support Center so they could meet with our copywriters and graphic designers. The students were so polite (not that I was expecting anything different!), and they asked some interesting questions on the short ride over. I could tell that they were curious and engaged in what I had to say. They really did a good job of representing the Hope High School brand and that of your Life Skills Class.” Nicole Cuningham, Sr. Proofreader, Advertising, CVS/pharmacy
“Thank you so so much for allowing me to be a part of your class Friday, it was an amazing experience and I feel honored to have been able to share my musical stories with you, I hope to be able to see you all again soon!” Sydney Flanagan, 15 year old singer/songwriter, Dighton Rehoboth High School
“I read the article in GoLocalProv and it is great! I love it. I’m so grateful for the experience of visiting your class and sharing my story from Columbia, South America to Boston; if you need Saylna and myself again, don’t hesitate to email us. We will be there for sure.” Laura Reales. Suffolk University Freshman, Entrepreneurial Studies
“Love Manny’s email. He reached out to me directly. I’ll keep in touch with him for sure. He is an impressive young man.” Carlos Sanchez, Senior Director Advertising Production, CVS/pharmacy
“the kids made everyone proud last Friday during our visit to CVS. They were great. The Hope High brand continues to increase in value.” Lynn Harrigan, Hope High Guidance
” it was a pleasure to host the Hope High School students at CVS Health today. This is an impressive group of students, and there were lots of great questions and participation throughout the day. Feedback from other CVS participants and departments has been very positive as well. I am looking forward to adding these future leaders to my network, and will be reaching out to all of those that gave me business cards…….” Donna Mumma, Senior Director of Pharmacy Inventory Management and Analytics at CVS Health
“Just had time to look through the Teespring field trip. Amazing – so encouraging to the students“. Jane Bermont, President, Hope High Dollars for Scholars
“Thank you for sharing your time with the Suffolk classes and enabling opportunities for students like Salyna, Laura and Kayla to take advantage of “paying it forward” at Hope High School and networking! Cool to see them get exposure in the Prov community and CVS!” Chad Heumme, Entrepreneur and Business Consultant
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“As I’ve stated to you before: your program and your students are truly unique and wonderful. It’s a great honor and a pleasure to play a part in your Life Skills class.” Rodrigo Zetina-Yglesias / Director of Operations, Benrus
“If every community offered a course like yours the country and the world would be a better place. I am going to find the copy of your textbook you gave me a few years ago and catch up on my American history.” John Danforth, teacher Winston Salem, North Carolina.
“What a great article and tribute to what you and your community partners have done and continue to do.” Mark Shaw, AAA Southern New England.
“Reaffirms what I knew already.We have been supporting your Hope High Life Skills work which has great value to the larger R. I. community. Congrats and keep up the excellent effort.” Tom Farrell, White Family Foundation
“Congratulations, Steve. I’m glad to be a part of your program and class visits. I just finished a meeting about our LAB program and I told them I wanted to reach out to you to find a candidate from Hope High.” John Sinnott, Gilbane Building Company.
“I am proud to be associated with the program. See you and the students in May.” Lou Mercado, VP Supply Chain Management, CVS
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
1. As we prepare for our visit to the campus of Roger Williams University in April, please do the f0llowing:
Don Mays, the Interim Director of the Intercultural Center at Roger Williams University, greeting the Hope HIgh Life Skills class after his introduction by Fernando Perez at the beginning of the class.
2. Read the profile of “Sam Houston” in your “Study of Change” text book from pages 63 to 70. Write a summary statement for Mr Houston’s resume. Remember, a summary statement lists the positive qualities of a person in well written sentences at the top of one’s resume. Mr Houston will be presenting this resume with the summary statement you’ve written during his upcoming job interview. Mr Houston thanks you profusely!
3. Have an enjoyable and fulfilling school vacation! See you again on April 10.
