In Just One Summer…
This is me in the small rural town of Mason, Michigan a few weeks ago, meeting with some high-school students in-person for the first time.
Samuel and Ikenna are unique 18 year olds...
"Most of my friends think AI is terrible -- that it's only used for cheating, and that it's evil..."
Ikenna remorsefully shared…
"But I've been doing my own digging, and I know how integral it'll be to my future. So I'm not waiting on permission to start using it."
Ikenna is interested in a lot of different careers - everything from marketing and graphic design to being a filmmaker, and even entrepreneurship.
But the common narrative he hears is "wait until after college."
Thankfully, he decided now that AI is here, waiting isn't an option.
This summer, Ikenna decided to do something quite different from most high schoolers.
He decided to start creating his own future NOW.
Hi rebels! 👋👋
If you don't know me, I'm Hannah -- Chief Rebel here at d'Skills.
This summer, I went on an investigation to discover the answer to a question that most schools can't seem to answer:
What WOULD happen if every student was AI-powered to make an impact now instead of being banned from these powerful tools?
Would they:
1️⃣ Cheat
or
2️⃣ Use AI for good?
That's up for you to decide, once you read this article.
I could tell you what I found in my words... but I'd much rather you hear stories in the words of the students themselves.
Enjoy this collection of students (aged 14-18) who want YOU to know what they're capable of when powered by d'Skills (digital, durable, and AI skills).
(We have a very special series of micro-documentaries coming out in October that will describe the rest!)
Story #1: Brody Kapali 🎉
Brody is 16, and lives on the island of Kauai, Hawai'i.
It's a rural community.
In Hawai'i, teachers and parents instill in their students a sense of community, belonging to the land, and respect for their environment. It's beautiful.
But Hawaii's struggling with a major problem: Students can't afford to stay.
Many move off-island after high school or college for jobs elsewhere.
But students like Brody see a different option -- what if instead, they could power themselves with AI to create their own digital opportunities?
What if they could develop a portfolio and d'Skills to earn income on their own terms?
That's what Brody set out to do this summer.
Here's his story 👇
Story #2: Adriana Melchor 👋
Adriana just graduated her high school cosmetology program from the Wilson Talent Center near Lansing, Michigan.
She loves personal styling, color theory, and working with clients.
Until March 2024, she'd never used AI.
But when she heard how much it would impact her future - even in a technical field like Cosmetology- she decided not to wait to start learning it and multiplying her career options.
See what she discovered about herself by powering her skills with AI 👇👇
Story #3: Pavit Thakkar 📚
Pavit is just 11 years old.
He cares deeply about water conservation, and even volunteers at a nonprofit called Save Drop.
This summer, he didn't wait for permission to work with AI.
He decided to share a story to get other kids fired up about water conservation.
So he wrote and illustrated a book with AI during d'Skills' Expedition AI.
Then he published it on Amazon (and yes, you can order it at this link).
Now he's earning income on book sales -- all of which he donates directly to SaveDrop. And he's teaching his friends how to create their own books too!
Talk about impact for good.
Story #4: Mahea Jackson 🚀
Mahea's a 16-year-old native Hawaiian student at Kamehameha Schools.
She's neurodivergent, and speaks openly about how the traditional school model of test-taking doesn't work for her.
This summer, she decided she wasn't going to wait to start her future.
So she started a digital marketing agency.
At the beginning of her 10-week sprint with d'Skills, she didn't believe in her full potential.
Imagine her mom's surprise when Mahea came home 4 weeks into the cohort and said:
Mom I've got 3 client calls today and just hit 400 LinkedIn connections!
See her story 👇
Within the first 2 weeks, she had grown to 200+ LinkedIn professional connections. Then to 400, then to 500 by the finale of the 10 weeks.
Mahea's not waiting to make an impact. She's helping small businesses NOW.
And she's made $2k+ already as a result during this summer.
Story #5: Xyandri Ortiz 👏
When Xyandri set out to become powered by d'Skills, she began as a negative and doubtful person.
This is something Gen Z struggles with. The comparison to the top 1% on social media is difficult pressure as a teen.
But in a world where AI is everywhere and information is at our fingertips, the more important skillset to gain is resilience, agility, and advocacy.
What Xyandri learned this summer surprised her 👇👇
Throughout the entirety of Impact10, I discovered my ability to overcome things easily! When starting, I had always been a very negative and doubtful person. Now, after getting ghosted by businesses and struggling with procrastination and seeing that I was able to get back up, I believe I have grown as a person and now always look for the positives in things.
And by sharing her journey so openly, she grew her LinkedIn following to 179 connections and counting!
The leaders at her school - Hawaii Technology Academy - have made the courageous decision not to ban AI tools. They do school differently. And it shows.
Through the incredible leadership of Matt Zitello and Andrew Marchetto-Ryan, students are empowered.
A lesson for every school to emulate.
Story #6: Ikenna Ikioye
Now we return to Ikenna -- the student I met in Mason, Michigan.
His high school -- the Wilson Talent Center -- is one of the few schools in the state actively supporting their exploration of AI, through the incredible forward-thinking leadership of Jim Kelly (Director, IT Services), Jason Mellema (Superintendent), and Jamie Engel (CTE Director).
They care deeply about students and their futures.
In an amazing experiment this spring, they unbanned AI tools to let students play with the technology, to see how it would impact their future careers (AI + Me).
Ikenna shares what he learned through this experiment - then the opportunity to turn those d'Skills into an impact project this summer 👇👇
When I visited him in Michigan to ask about the experience of becoming AI-powered, he shocked me with a mic-drop moment (literally) 🎙️
I asked "If you had a whole room of superintendents, what would you share with them about AI bans in schools?"
Hear what he shared (every school leader needs to hear this) 👇👇
Ikenna's mic-drop moment (click the video)
After hearing in their words, what say you?
Can students use AI for good? Or are they only using it to cheat?
Personally, on this tour from Hawaii to Michigan to California this summer I found myself incredibly encouraged 🤗🎉
👉 Students are making courageous choices
👉 Ruckus maker school leaders are guiding their students toward their future, courageously encouraging students who AI-power themselves
👉 Rebel students are AI-powering themselves for GOOD to make an impact on their communities
👉 Rebel students are building confidence, stepping outside their comfort zones, and speaking up.
But is this the norm?
It's certainly NOT.
These students are in the minority. Most are afraid. Most have been told AI is cheating, or worse, EVIL.
Imagine a different future for a moment.
A future where every student is AI-powered to achieve their dreams, goals, and future.
A future where AI comes alongside us in every way we work, think, and play.
A future where every student graduating high school has the choice to become an author (like Pavit), an entrepreneur (like Mahea), or a changemaker (like Ikenna).
Because ultimately AI-poweredness is about students. Their futures. Their hopes and their dreams.