Last month, we welcomed FXW Alumnus John Franklin as the third and final speaker in our Maggie Daley Speaker Series this year. After attending Whitney Young, John went on to Northwestern University, where he graduated in June 2018 as the School of Engineering’s Co-op Student of the Year.

John was interviewed by 8th Grade Student Council President Lily H. about how his FXW education prepared him academically, socially, and personally for high school, college, and the workforce, particularly his current job at Google in New York City. Parents and students alike were impressed by his honesty, enthusiasm, and interesting insights about how FXW helped shape him into the person he is today. The most important lesson John learned while at FXW? “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” 

It was interesting for all to hear John’s opinion that success in the workforce—and in life—depend less on one’s skill set and more on one’s quality of character. A group of fellow alums who came out to support John agreed with his message about the special community that formed their childhood home. John was the first alum to be featured in the Speaker Series this year joining noted authors Julie Lythcott-Haims and Jean Twenge, but we hope to highlight others in the future.