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!