Students from local high schools visited the Rio Hondo College campus on February 13 for the ‘Your Future Matters’ College Resource Fair. The event was presented by the Next Up/Guardian Scholars program, in partnership with the LA County Office of Education.
Over the last few months, Next Up/Guardian Scholars Student Success Coaches, such as Leslie Zavala, have been making frequent visits to local high schools in the Whitter, El Monte and Montebello school districts. These visits offer an opportunity to connect with high school students who have experience in the foster care system and make them aware of the resources and support available to them at Rio Hondo College through the Next Up/Guardian Scholars program. Zavala notes the importance of building these relationships with students before entering their college journey. “When students are introduced to higher education early and supported through meaningful relationships, education becomes more than a goal—it becomes a possibility they can see, believe in, and pursue. Planting that seed early helps cultivate confidence, curiosity, and the belief that their future belongs in places of learning,” says Zavala.
At the start of the event, students were welcomed with a care package that included a hooded sweatshirt, tote bag, notebook and informational brochures. The resource fair offered an array of community booths and the opportunity to meet representatives from local colleges.
Next Up/Guardian Scholars students Marco Ayala, Jessica Hernandez, Yissel Perez and Mariah Martinez sat on a student panel moderated by Deborah Lopez, Director of Foster Care Programs and CalWorks and Jose Smith, Foster Youth Services Coordinator from the LA County Office of Education. They shared insights into navigating their college experience and offered advice to students looking to pursue higher education. “It’s okay to not know what you want to do when you’re in high school,” Martinez shares, “staff at Next Up/Guardian Scholars supported me as I figured it out.” Ayala adds, “a lot of motivation came from the Next Up/Guardian Scholars program! But it also had to come from me, by looking inward and resourcing myself and my business, Marcocookiez.”
After lunch, keynote speaker, Junely Merwin, encouraged students to never give up on their educational journey and to turn to trusted mentors for support and guidance. Merwin shares, “it was an honor to speak to the high school foster youth and inspire them to pursue higher education. Guardian Scholars programs transform lives.”
