Entrepreneurship: HSIP and Assemblies

The program, which is still in its pilot phase, was created to achieve three specific goals as part of the Citizens of the World Strategic Plan. The first goal is to “develop a new model for advanced studies at Hopkins, introducing an updated curriculum, focused on exploration of complex topics and engagement with real-world problems,” said Ms. Proulx, who is one of the creators of the program and a director of innovation at Hopkins. The new curriculum is designed to connect to twenty-first century learning, which focuses on developing skills for real-life situations, rather than repeating facts. The curriculum will also support the removal of AP classes at Hopkins by “asking students to apply advanced skills in real contexts instead of preparing for a test”, comments Ms. Proulx. According to the strategic plan, the second goal is to “Intensify the use of experiential learning, including a new program in entrepreneurship and social impact, expanded opportunities for internships, and renewed use of the Adam Krieger Adventure Course”. Ms. Proulx added that “We are looking to solve two challenges. The first one is internal– Hopkins teachers, for quite a long time, have wanted an outdoor teaching space or community garden. The second one is external– we are partnering with local organizations like Loaves and Fishes and Sunrise Cafe, which fight food insecurity”. The strategic plan mentions that the last goal that the program is trying to achieve is to “establish an Inter-term Program featuring interdisciplinary courses, local and global travel, and other experiences outside the mainstream curriculum.”

The entrepreneurship program has helped many students pursue their interests in business. Jacob Richards ‘27 said that he joined the program because he “sought to learn about entrepreneurial skills at Hopkins while applying these newfound teachings to a significant initiative in local communities.” Similarly, Vivian Zhong ‘27 said that she joined because “I have always been interested in business, and I did a few summer programs about it. After hearing about HESIP, I could tell it would be a great opportunity to learn more about entrepreneurship and also apply knowledge in creating our own business”. Both Richards and Zhong appreciated the chance to learn more about business from people in local businesses. “I have enjoyed working alongside like-minded individuals with similar passions and ambitions for entrepreneurship and social impact”, added Richards. Zhong noted, “I really like that we get to design our own pitches and everything is up to us…I like that we are learning how to go through the entire process of creating a business. I also like meeting people from around Hopkins and New Haven, like Chef Duffy from Sunrise Cafe who came in to speak to us. We get to hear and learn about different things going on in our community to help us develop our ideas.”

In addition to the entrepreneurship program, Hopkins also launched a new assembly series called US at 250. This brings up the question “Who is US?”. Assistant Head of School John Roberts said, “US could mean the United States or us as Hopkins School”. The “250” acknowledges the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which many other schools and universities are celebrating as the two-hundred fiftieth birthday of America. Mr. Roberts says, “We are leaning into that, having our own take” It is called ‘us’ to answer the question of ‘what is America?’--‘What is the meaning of American history?’

The series is also meant to question the current identity of the United States: Mr. Roberts questions, “‘What is the meaning of America at 250?’, ‘Who are we?’, ‘Where are we now?’, ‘Where does this country go moving forward?’, ‘If the whole country is thinking about America or us at 250, what does that mean?’”.