The Art of Negotiation: High School Students Learn Essential Life Skills
Whether you are a teen asking your parents for an extended curfew or a seasoned professional closing a big business deal, the art of negotiation is a critical life skill that is not typically included in the average high school curriculum. At Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, students had the chance to dive into the world of negotiation through the inaugural Warren Workshop series, a four-week elective that brought real-world experience directly to the classroom.
Taught by entrepreneur and investor Zach Coopersmith and David Vetter, chief legal officer for TD SYNNEX, the workshop introduced students to the fundamentals, strategies and real-world applications of negotiation. What made the experience truly unique was the hands-on practice and the opportunity to learn from business leaders who use these skills every day.
For many of the students, the workshop was a lightbulb moment. Cole Oman, a senior, discovered that his compassionate nature, which he once thought was a disadvantage, is actually a powerful tool in negotiation. “Now I feel more equipped to stand out and excel in a college-level business course,” he shared, “as well as to find common ground and unique solutions in everyday situations.”
The workshop, offered last spring, was a huge hit among Shorecrest students in grades 9-12. Simi Damani, a fellow senior, noted, “Although the workshop took place an hour before school started, Mr. Coopersmith did a great job of making negotiation relatable, interesting and worth the early morning.”
The Warren Workshop is an initiative of the Ross Roeder Institute for Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship and Economics (RRI) at Shorecrest. The RRI delivers enhanced curricular and co-curricular programming for students in grades 9-12, while providing integrated learning experiences across the PK3-12 continuum.
Earl Walton, the Director of the RRI is inspired by the promise that programs like the Warren Workshop offer students. “The best part is that the concepts and skills learned are so immediately applicable to their lives now, giving them a strong foundation on which to build for the future,” he said.
Looking ahead, Shorecrest plans to offer more Warren Workshop series on different topics, with themes like public speaking and project management under consideration. The goal is to give students a chance to take multiple workshops and gain exposure to a variety of experts and real-world applications.
These students are proving that valuable lessons aren't always found in a textbook. By learning from experts and applying their knowledge in real-world scenarios, they are cultivating critical skills that will equip them for success in college and beyond.
Presented by Shorecrest Preparatory School
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