A Final Goodbye to the Senior AVID Class

With the class of 2019 on the brink of graduating, there are numerous groups of seniors that deserve to be recognized. The senior AVID class has been participating and doing their part for Redwood’s community with little to no recognition in return. It is time to let this group of seniors briefly have the spotlight before they have to say goodbye to a campus that they called their home for these past few years.

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, has been offered as an elective course for years in the Visalia Unified School District. The program has had significant roles in students lives, and more students and people, in general, should be aware of the purpose of AVID. On a more factual note, AVID is used to help implement a source of encouragement in helping students with high academic potential prepare for colleges and universities. The environment of this class is centered around guiding students to their goals and dreams after high school.

Current AVID student, Zitlaly Rivaz, ‘19, who has been apart of this program since her 8th grade year shared some of the skills she’s developed through the class. Rivaz said, “Avid has help me develop organization skills and helped me learn how to take notes.” She explained more about how appreciative she is of the class and said, “AVID is like a family, we learn to encourage one another when things aren’t going so well.” This program not only teaches students how to thrive in their educational career with many different skills, the community serves as a source of comfort and support for the members within.

Although some may end up taking the class because of free room in their schedule, most end up loving and seeing the significance of being in the program. Samantha Andres, ‘19, for example, said joined because of extra space in her schedule, but later said, “little did I know it [AVID] would lead me through such a great journey: I gained more knowledge of how to get to a four year university, I gained time management and responsibility with my work in school, and most importantly I gained a family.” She came to love the program and even became vice-president to help lead her class. Andres continued to express her utmost gratitude for her AVID family and their teacher, Mrs. Romo.

There are a number of benefits that come along with being apart of AVID. Jessica Lopez, ‘19, who is the senior class president of the program helped explain all the opportunities that an AVID student can receive. Some major benefits include the fee waivers that come with tests, which are the PSAT, SAT with essay, and ACT. Lopez said, “This helps students financially, since they do not have to pay for these standardized test out of pocket.” Some other benefits she mentioned were free field trips to colleges and universities, and an end-of-the-year scholarship that will be given to the senior class.

Although AVID is open for any student of any background to join, the target of this program goes towards those who come from low-income families and first-generation students. Aleeyah Lutap, ‘19, secretary of AVID, shared her own personal story and said, “Being someone who comes from a low-income household, AVID has financially helped me in many things such as fee waivers for act, sat, college applications, and, etc. It also gives us many scholarship opportunities.” Lutap said that the program helps her and her classmates focus on their education and not worry about the financial aspects of school.

Overall, AVID is truly a program that provides students with many benefits and opportunities that they could not easily find somewhere else for free. Our current senior AVID class wanted to say goodbye and share all the privileges and memories they were able to experience while being apart of the class. They wish to continue the familial-like tradition of AVID and hopes that the future students will enjoy it as much as they did.The program is available for any student to join, and it seems that future students will be welcomed with open arms and open minds.