At Granite Hills High School, it has become a cherished tradition for students involved with the Academy of Careers in Education (ACE) to visit UCLA and the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium. This experience fosters a deeper connection to higher education and community pride.
To start their trip, 48 Granite Hills students arrived at UCLA to commence their short tour which then led to a self-guided journey. This way, students had the opportunity to truly feel what it would be like to be a student at UCLA.
Many students participating in the field trip valued this aspect since it gave them a chance to explore on their behalf without waiting on others.
“My favorite aspect of the UCLA campus was that their campus was nice and everyone was very friendly,” said ACE junior Anahi Ramos.
The independent trip of the university also included time for the students to enjoy a meal anywhere on campus, leaving them with more independence — a crucial skill for their future.
After spending a few hours exploring UCLA, capturing plenty of pictures, and enjoying a delicious meal, the students made their way to the bus to drive to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the UCLA football game — the most anticipated part for many first-time visitors.
Arriving at the Rose Bowl Stadium, plenty of students began to buy food and snacks before the game started. Although it was a bit of a hassle for everyone to find seats since plenty of schools were attending the game, the ACE classes managed to make it work perfectly. The students delivered the spirit by cheering on UCLA football players and UCLA cheerleaders. Numerous students even purchased relaxing UCLA apparel to fit in.
Speaking of fitting in, first-year ACE teacher Mrs. Aurora Ramos fit in with all her students. Mrs. Ramos was a chaperone for this field trip, making it possible for her to say she is now an outstanding and involved ACE teacher.
Mrs. Ramos had a few thoughts on what her experience was on her very first ACE school outing.
“Hopefully this motivates them to maybe want to join one of those schools and let them know there’s not only Porterville [College] and to go and experience what is out there,” Mrs. Ramos said.
This is true because when asked if the tour of the campus made students’ desire to come to a four-year university stronger, ACE junior Sofia Campos agreed.
“This tour did make me want to do a four-year,” she said. “I feel like it’s a nice environment to be in.”
Even though the trip allowed plenty of students to see going to a four-year university as their go-to plan, this outing led some students to decide that UCLA specifically was not for them.
“Seeing all the banners of health and different majors that they have showed me that I probably shouldn’t go there for business and finance, but it’s really good for the people who are,” said ACE senior Kendall Miller.
This experience not only exposed students to a vibrant campus culture and the excitement of college athletics but also allowed them to witness a sense of community and amazing school spirit. Who cares that UCLA ended up losing 42-13?
