Hawk Talk at Hoover Middle School: Inspiring Hope, One Story at a Time

This week, Hoover Middle School became a stage for something bigger than a typical school day. More than 500 San José Unified students gathered for “Hawk Talk,” a TED Talk–inspired speaker series designed to spark one essential idea: hope.

Starting at 11:00 a.m., students filled the gym with anticipation as a dynamic lineup of Bay Area leaders took the stage. Each speaker delivered a powerful 10-minute talk, sharing personal journeys filled with challenges, pivots, and perseverance. The format was fast-paced, but the impact lingered far beyond each story.

Principal Andrew Anstead reflected on the experience with pride, sharing, “I’m proud of how our Hawk Talk event turned out yesterday. We brought nearly 600 students together under the theme of hope for an inspiring series of 10-minute TED-style talks from exceptional Bay Area leaders.” He emphasized the purpose behind the event, adding, “Our goal was to expose students — many from backgrounds with limited access to these kinds of pathways — to real, raw journeys of resilience and success from people who live and work right here in the Bay Area.” Looking out at the students, he noted, “The energy in the room was powerful, and I’m confident it planted real hope for our students’ futures.”

That sense of possibility came to life through the speakers themselves. Former NBA champion Festus Ezeli spoke about discipline and consistency, reminding students, “Success isn't talent, it’s habits worked on consistently.” His message resonated throughout the room, reinforcing the idea that greatness is built step by step. He also shared, “You were given your mountains, so you can show others they can be moved,” encouraging students to see challenges as opportunities for growth.

Emmy Award-winning producer RomeDigs (Rommel Reyes) offered a deeply honest perspective on failure and growth, sharing, “I met my idol, then I failed him.” His vulnerability underscored an important truth—that even in moments of disappointment, there is room to learn, grow, and keep going.

Karla Rodriguez Lomax, Senior Public Affairs Director for Kaiser Permanente’s South Bay and Central Coast region, brought a message that felt especially close to home. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “This is my passion. I grew up on the east side of San José in an environment where I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and didn’t have a lot of resources to connect me with what I was good at.” Her commitment to opening doors for students was clear as she explained, “I really want to help students find out what they want to do, and lift up the hood a bit on all of the options that are out there.” She reminded students that careers are not always linear, saying, “As you grow and evolve, your dreams do too,” and left them with a powerful takeaway: “A goal is a dream with a plan.”

While the speakers delivered the inspiration, it was the students who carried those messages forward.

Alexander Agib reflected on Ezeli’s words, writing, “Success isn't talent, it’s habits worked on consistently. This quote stood out to me because it showed me that hard work really does pay off… if we really want to make it somewhere, then we should believe in ourselves and push through.”

Rakin Calhoun found inspiration in the speakers’ shared resilience, explaining, “After hearing the visitors, I felt inspired by how they all do good for others… things didn't always pan out how they expected, but everything turned out good for them.”

For Abdirahman Mohamed, RomeDigs’ honesty stood out. “I met my idol, then I failed him,” he reflected, noting that the message showed how “it’s normal to fail… As long as they persevere, anything can turn from impossible to possible.”

Danny Sanchez connected deeply with Ezeli’s message about overcoming obstacles, sharing, “‘You were given your mountains, so you can show others they can be moved.’ This quote made me think about how in life there are always going to be big problems… getting past your problems will always bring something good.”

Together, these reflections paint a clear picture of Hawk Talk’s impact. Students didn’t just listen—they connected, reflected, and saw themselves in the stories being shared.

Hawk Talk wasn’t just an event. It was a reminder that hope is something you build—through resilience, through community, and through the belief that every challenge can lead to something greater. At Hoover Middle School, that message didn’t just echo through the gym. It stayed with every student who walked out, carrying a new vision for what their future could hold.