On Sept. 26-27, AVID’s senior class took a field trip to four different colleges throughout California so AVID students could experience a variety of college atmospheres. AVID seniors and chaperones met at DMHS at precisely 7 a.m. before boarding a charter bus and leaving at 7:30 a.m. to travel to Monterey Bay State University.
After an hour bus ride, a Del Mar Alumni, Leslie Salgado, welcomed DMHS AVID and presented information about campus life. Jose Ayala, an AVID senior, explained that she emphasized the university’s dedication to creating a friendly atmosphere for all students, by displaying how the living conditions there were vibrant and diverse.
The group was given some free time to explore the campus. A nearby Starbucks, with all of its employees being students, drew Ayala’s attention. The café was full of activity, and a mix of cultures, and the AVID students were thrilled to be able to interact with their classmates in a new environment, described Ayala.
The class boarded the bus again at 10 a.m. this time for a two to three-hour ride to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO). The university provided them with a substantial lunch when they arrived, which prepared them for the afternoon’s activities.
Ayala mentioned that the campus was “very well kept and clean.” Students were allowed to wander after lunch, discovering the college’s bookstore, where they found merchandise they liked.
Ayala mentions that a highlight was, “The way everything was comforting, there was always a place for people to lounge in and [for students to] work on their own.”
AVID explored the school’s arcade and bowling alley before attending an Equal Opportunity Programs (EOP) presentation. Fun facts and incentives for participation were interspersed throughout the EOP director’s presentation. Pens and stuffed Mustangs, Cal Poly’s mascot, were given away as prizes.
The AVID seniors gathered for a group shot as the trip came to an end, they left Cal Poly prepared to travel to a Hilton hotel in Long Beach, roughly six hours away.
After checking into their hotel the patio lounge became a gathering place. According to Sophia Urias, an AVID senior, some students conversed about their day while enjoying their time in the pool, hot tubs, and individual hotel rooms.
The next morning they took the bus to Long Beach University. With a focus on the exploration of business programs and a new graphic design course, the campus tour got underway.
The Del Mar Alumni, Jenna Chavez, gave the tour and spoke about how significant cultural spaces are to the student body. Urias thinks that was “an important and impactful aspect of the college because it shows there will be a place for everyone, wherever they go.”
They were back on the bus by 9:30 a.m., on their way to Cal Poly Pomona, their last destination. The class entered the bookstore to view possible souvenirs before heading to the dining hall for lunch, followed by another EOP presentation.
Ibrahim Seisay shared that they learned about “ college applications, and the specific college requirements.” Seisay was particularly interested to learn about the “transfer guaranteed program, if you go to community college for two years you will get guaranteed admission into a CSU as long as you meet requirements.”
They departed Pomona at 2:40 p.m. The lengthy drive home involved a few stops, one at In-N-Out for dinner and a bathroom break.
Bardia Golbad reflected on the trip saying, “The most important thing to me was that we got to spend more time and bond with the class that we will spend the rest of our year with.”
Around 11 p.m., the bus returned to DMHS. This experience provided insight into future possibilities for the class when choosing what CSUs they may consider applying to, explained Ayala
With the field trip concluding, Seisay recommends “If you want to go to college, if college is something you want to go to then AVID is one of your best options. AVID helps you throughout the whole application process.”
