<< Prev Next >>

Image 1 of 2

Loading images

For Ricardo Robles, it's like coming back home.  This is Robles' old classroom and he shows the students in the class where he used to sit.  The class is called Spanish for Hispanics.  McClatchy  High School, in Land Park,  has a 26 percent Latino population. 

The teacher, Mr. Rodolfo Orihuela, explains that he created this class so the students, who are already fluent in the Spanish language, can get an opportunity to learn about their heritage.
 
To break the ice Robles asks the students to draw the person nearest to them. 
 
"It does not matter if you can't draw, just give it a try" says Robles.  After they spend 5 minutes drawing, he asks them to give the drawing to the person they drew. 
 
"The object of the exercise," he said "is to make you want to talk to that person and also to highlight  that we can't all be good at everything. We are all unique."
 
After the drawing exercise, Robles shares his background. "I graduated from McClatchy in 2001 and from Sac State in 2008." He tells the students that he is an entrepreneur, explaining that he takes calculated risks and recognizes hidden opportunities.
 
The students all look at each other as if to ask "what is an entrepreneur?" Robles addresses the question in the air and explains that he is an example of an entrepreneur by telling the students, "I can start a potential business with no capital by leveraging my business relationships. I use smart ways to get customers to my business and create awareness."
 
Robles shares his experience with Global Entrepreneurship Week. He first came across the concept last year and decided to participate. GEW is a week-long event, with activities everyday that are geared toward entrepreneur. He had 30 days to put together the event and had close to 800 participants.
 
He was told that it couldn't be done, but he says he leveraged what he calls, Quality Human Capital. He says that the people who are influencing you right now, whether it's a book, your teacher, your friends, etc. these people are your Quality Human Capital.
 
He engaged the students by asking them questions to get them to start thinking about setting goals and the importance of having direction and control over their lives. 
What are five things that you value most in life?
Can you tell me in 30 seconds or less, what is the most important goal for you right now?
What would you do if you won a million dollars tomorrow? What would you change? What would you buy? Who would you see?
 
As the students wrote down their answers, Robles told them just the fact that they were writing it down meant that they could achieve it. There were no limitations.
 
Robles continued with questions like, what would you do and how would you choose to live if you were told you only had six months to live? Who would you see? What have you always wanted to do but been too afraid to try?
 
He also asked, looking back to the things that you have done in your life, what type of activity has given you the greatest feeling of importance?
 
Robles came up with the idea of "trust in the rock" based on an idea from the book, "The Secret." He explained that trust without studying does not happen, you need to go through the process. Through the work that you do, you can accomplish anything.
 
He adds that the rock has no special power, but it is a tool to remind you what you are grateful for. Each of us has the ability to create our own life, he said, and that everything we are and will be results from the choices we make today.
 
Mr. Orihuela is happy to see former students like Robles returning and sharing their success with his classes.
 
"As a teacher you let them go knowing that they are not complete. But when [students like Robles] return and you see their transformation, it's the greatest [feeling]."