DAY 10: Ready for home but not to leave our friends

Our kids really enjoyed their time with the students from UPenn and all of them showed up on time to make it to our information session. Props to UPenn, they modeled the best slides and most interesting info session; using student journey examples and great visual aids.  

After the session, they sent us on a tour with Brendan, an easy-going student studying languages and economics. The weather was perfect with clear skies and a slight breeze as we toured through this old campus that felt like its own little town.  Our home base of La Casa really added to the experience. our in between, tired times, were spent in La Casa, on their couches, playing their games and watching Netflix.   The best was when they all sat around with a guitar and started singing songs together!  UPenn made a few students top three, especially because they felt like it gave them a small-town feel and then a big city right outside.  

We had lunch and ice cream in town before heading to the train for the airport.  Lots of laughing, some tears, arms around each other and flashing back on our memories for the week made up most of our travel to the airport.  This trip was special, for everyone.
Being witness to their bonding and a-ha moments of all that life has to offer, was a privilege.  The number of people working towards helping the world meet what these kids deserve is inspiring. I am honored to be a part of this legacy in its 11th year and may the Watsonville Ivy League Project, and all of its participants, continue to thrive and find a way.

DAY 9: Columbia and UPENN

Day 9: Columbia

The subway to uptown, leaving the neon lights behind and entering what academia looks like; student life in stead of tourist life.  Most of the students expressed not wanting to live in such a big, packed, crazy city, but having actual space to walk on the sidewalk in the neighborhood surrounding Columbia, helped them envision it as a possibility. Most still think New York is too much for them, but at least two felt fueled by all the people and action, and fell in love with the campus. It’s classic architecture feels like the school is protected from the city. The university is a stark contrast from the city.

On the bus to UPENN! Sleeping teens and a little bit of rain as we rolled into Philadelphia. Augustine from La Casa was there to greet us promptly and saved the kids from some sprinkles as he escorted us into a comfortable space with TV, instruments, games, snacks and couches. It was teenager heaven and the students were happy just to hang out and relax. We have been hoping, going, going! When Augustine came back from class, him and a few other students presented about La Casa and UPenn. The hosts came soon after and took the kids in for the night.

Day 8: Yale Part 2- and NY City!

The a.m. consisted of an information session at the Yale office of Undregraduate admissions. Students showed up in YALE gear, already envisioned themselves on campus. 

A senior student spoke about student life and classes and the director spoke about the admissions process, and expressed how much she enjoys reading the personal statements; being privy to the insight of inspiring youth all over the country. She reiterated that being authentic and really letting the reader get to know you through self reflection , was key for the admissions department to understand the whole student.  

Before we jumped on the bus to NY city, we brunches on crepes for our last hoorah in New Haven. 

Once in NY, we checked into the hotel, changed and headed out for dinner. We ate at Pennsy Hall, connected to Madison Square Garden and overlooking Fashion Avenue.  With curled hair and shiny shoes, the kids were ready for Broadway! The walk up Fashion Avenue to Times Square was full of neon lights and selfies the whole way. The musical chosen for the students was Dear Evan Hansen, and once we sat down and viewed the creative set design, it was clear this was a play for them.  The set had a digital layout with a running twitter page and instant message motif projected around the center of the stage, a twin bed with a laptop on it. The play starts and we begin learning about an anxious, insecure, quirky, sweet, normal teenager, aching for belonging and a way to talk to his longtime crush. The kids were laughing, crying, and sometimes a little uneasy with how real it was. 

Our late night excursion afterwards was shakes, sundaes and cakes at Juniors in Times Square. Flashing lights, the good kind, paved our way back to the hotel. 

Early up to Columbia to meet the Chicanx Caucus first thing!

Day 7: YALE, finally!

We started the day at 7:30, with the hosts dropping students the bus. They all reported having great conversations with the Cornell Students at the Latino Living Center(where their event was last night)going deep about imposter syndrome and families that don’t want them to leave for college. Before our 6 hour drive to Yale, we stopped at Waffle Frolic in Ithaca Commons and pigged out!

 The drive was gorgeous, not sure how much of that was taken in by our students. A glance around the bus yielded many crooked flopping necks, and feet sticking out into the walkway. Clear signs of teenagers catching up on sleep.
As we were getting closer to arrival time, they all started perking up- excited to see YALE, finally!
We pulled up to La Casa Cultura, the Yale Latino Cultural Center, and two WHS grads were there to greet us, Marian Rocha and Alexis Rocha(yes, they are sisters- one is a senior and one is a sophomore).  It is so powerful for them to see their Watsonville peers thriving in this atmosphere.

Mariana and Alexis quickly rounded the WILP crew up and headed out for a tour. Students commented on how it reminded them of Harvard but felt like Brown. The AWEsomeness plus the down to earth feel.  Seeing peers at the colleges definitely impacts their comfort level.  Another WHS graduate, Sophia Elizalde, joined the walking tour- just rushing from class.  Big greetings and hugs, and more connection to Yale.

After YALE shopping at the bookstore, it was time to return to La Casa for pizza and the student panel.  All of this was arranged by former PVUSD students and and three of the panel were former WILP students:  Krista Arellano, Mariana Rocha and Sophia Elizalde.  This is the part of the trip they have been waiting for the most or at least the part they will remember the most.
We left them with their hosts and evening event plans. They were definitely in good hands!. Tomorrow is Yale part 2!

Day 6: Cornell all the way

Boy did Cornell knock it out of the park today! Brendan, one of the student guides was waiting for us and immediately swooped the kids into the dining hall and escorted them to their reserved table.

We all felt special immediately. After eating and taking in the awesomeness of Cornell the student guide took us to a reserved room where the Assistant Director for Diversity Outreach presented to the students, Richard Onyejuruwa.

He was thorough and likable, expressing how thankful he was that the students had come all this way to visit. This visit was by far the most organized and well-planned. After going over some major components of Cornell University, Richard followed up by dividing students into groups of three to sit and have more intimate conversations with current Cornell students.

He kept them right on schedule and then divided them into groups of two, before he explained the scavenger hunt competition, that would be their campus tour. They had to choose two captains, a photographer, and name their team before they started their race to the finish. It was a really refreshing way to get the kids to see campus. An hour later we all met up to get the kids luggage and match them up with their host for the rest of the evening. They quickly took them off to their rooms after Richard handed them their typed out itinerary for the evening. We met up with the kids again at 6 p.m. to listen to a presentation from professor Chris Hernandez who is from Fresno and has been presenting to the WILP students for a few years now. He is quite passionate about giving back and supporting students like him.

I can't wait to hear all about the other planned events that Cornell offered our students. They were all giving Cornell's thumbs up last I saw!

Day 5: Williams College on a Sunday

 85 degrees in Williamstown today as we toured Williams College. The drive was epic with East coast scenery, old homes, colored leaves, and trees, trees, trees. When we got there, Sulgi, the admissions director was waiting for us with a student guide, Reid. Sulgi was friendly, happy to see us and quickly arranged for some student ambassadors to join us for dinner after the tour; free meal tickets included for all of us.

The students have worked so hard I really appreciate it when these gestures are made that show them how wanted they are at these prestigious universities. Sometimes it's hard for our young folks to believe that they're good enough for all these schools.  The campus was classic and stood out as the center of town. The student tour guide was able to get us into a dorm where the students seemed right at home.

The university students seemed  to be studious everywhere but then one of our student ambassadors reminded us that it was Sunday, the day everyone crams to catch up!

The heat put a little damper on the tour but as soon as it started to cool down the students were able to appreciate the town and the school in a new way. Students seemed really interested in the concentrations that they get to choose instead of majors.
We ended the day with a walk through the cemetery to view the river. Of course they loved that! A cemetery is a great way to get teens to enjoy nature.

Day 4: Brown University and the trip to Providence

Our students were the most relaxed today.  They got to sleep in till 9 ish and were greeted by a Pajaro Valley High School graduate, that made them all feel right at home. 

 Alexis Rodriguez-Camacho, bottom right in photo, walked the students all around campus and up and down Thayer Street. They made it to the Latinx center and just about every student space. Kids  even got to see  inside dorms, which has been limited so far. A great capper was when he took us into a classroom, plugged his computer in and played an inspirational Tyra Banks video, which  he says helped him focus his personal statement. You could see the students minds churning as he facilitated a conversation around being authentic, as opposed to getting locked into what everyone thinks a personal statement is supposed to be.   

Brown was noticeably more collegey with young people in the quad studying or holding hands or playing frisbee or even just napping. There was a real community, relaxed feel but still very academic centered. The students remarked how relaxed they felt...maybe it was a Saturday thing, maybe it was Alexis, or maybe it's just Brown University....

DAY 3: TUFTS & HARVARD

What a fun day! Jet lag is gone and everyone finally slept the correct amount of hours- or at least close to it. We jumped on the bus to Harvard Square first thing... Then jumped on the Red Line to TUFTS!
“I really like it here” and even an “I’m going here!” Were heard throughout as we were guided through this small town feeling campus full of green and open space, complemented by perfectly clear skies. The students wanted to go to the LatinX Center before we left and we were happily greeted by Marvin the director.  The LGBTQ center was in the same house and they  were stoked to grab stickers and pins to commemorate their visit.
We walked into Davis Square had lunch and took the red line back to Harvard for our much awaited tour.  I noticed the students had on their extra extra professional clothes for this one!  The two Harvard Seniors that presented talked about doubting themselves and learning that they had just as much to offer as other students. They emphasized “you can’t get in if you don’t apply”, as both Seniors didn’t think they would ever get accepted to Harvard. Our students hadgreat questions and they were all answered with care, detail and examples.  There is something in the air at Harvard that just makes you feel like you are in a special place. (Then again, it could just be all the tourists snapping photos like they were at the Eiffel Tower or the Vatican.)

It was nice to also be greeted by two Central Coast folks studying there. One counselor from Santa Cruz County, Lauren Lindstrom, studying in the Education Master’s program and Eric Becerra, of Castroville, who is in the PhD program for Education. Afterwards we all sat in Harvard Square eating dinner together. It was a gorgeous, warm night. The chess players, street musicians and festive lighting went perfectly with our students playing card games and laughing together in the square.

DAY 2: BU & MIT

Thursday Sept. 19th :We all met up at Boston University first thing in the morning.  We were greeted at the Howard Thurman Center for common ground, by an eager and welcoming staff (including the Director Katherine Kennedy)

After introducing themselves the staff gave each student a BU pack pack full of swag: a t-shirt, stickers, info, postcards and a recommended book, Belong, about finding your people and creating community. Then Assistant Dean Daryl Deluca rolled out even more red carpet as he proceeded to lead us up to one of our many rooftop views of the day.  The students seemed very interested in Boston University, and who wouldn’t be with all of this attention and care. Daryl Deluca and his team really know how to do it! Deluca jokingly promises to pay tuition to anyone who can find a 4.5 hour tour at any other school!

Then it was off to MIT! Maddie was the student tour guide and she walked us through the various schools, talked about importance of research. Did you know MIT has more Graduate students than undergrad students? This allows for many hands on and research opportunities for undergrads.

DAY 1: We made it!

Departure SFO- parents seeing kids off- chaperones handing out budgets and boarding passes as we made our way to TSA. Such warm greetings when traveling with stoked teenagers and everyone wants to help out- like they think this is hard or something! 

On the plane a few of us caught some Z’s, but most were doing homework or watching the Avengers. The flight was easy and of course, the kids were perfect! We arrived at 10:30 to the AIRBNB but feels like 7:30 for them——DOORDASH to the rescue!!! #citylife 

Happy to report they all agree to a 7:45 departure in the morning and agreed to the mile and a half walk to  BOSTON UNIVERSITY in the morning! 
#itslategotobed