WHITTIER – La Serna High School seniors posed for photos, danced to their favorite tunes, showed off Lancer swag, and proudly placed “I Applied” stickers on a bulletin board after completing a college application to a UC, Cal State, private, or community college – or a job application – during the school’s inaugural Future Ready Celebration Day on Dec. 4.

The Celebration Day lunchtime festivities, which were attended by 225 seniors, are the second part of La Serna’s recently-launched Future Ready initiative, a schoolwide effort to educate and encourage seniors to take control of their post-secondary plans, joining Whittier High School, which launched its own Future Ready program in October.

“Celebration Day makes me more excited for college,” said La Serna High senior Isabella Ceballos, who hopes to be accepted to UC Berkeley. “Filling out applications is scary but now we get to celebrate as we take this next step together.”

La Serna’s Future Ready initiative began in October with a college application workshop for seniors. Spread over two days, seniors were excused from class to attend the two-hour workshop, where they researched colleges and spoke to college recruiters and community partners such as Fullerton College, Río Hondo College, CalSOAP, Tri-Cities ROP, Río Hondo Puente Program, and Advance! On to College Financial Services. 

The final leg of La Serna’s Future Ready program will come in May 2026 during La Serna’s Decision Day celebration. All seniors who have made a post-secondary plan – whether committing to a college or university, enlisting in the United State Armed Forces, or entering the work force – will gather for a final celebration before they graduate.

After the college workshops in October, participating seniors filled out a survey, which showed that students greatly appreciated the extra time during class to work on their applications, having access to counselors and outside partners, and the ability to ask questions on the spot.

“Our goal is to have every senior complete one application, whether for college or for employment, before they graduate,” La Serna counselor Suzy Chavez said. “In years past, we’ve had workshops before school and after school, but we discovered there was value in dedicating a school day where all seniors had an equal opportunity to prepare for their future.”

La Serna’s Future Ready program is a collaborative effort between the school’s College Corner, La Serna school counselors, and La Serna’s Expanded Horizons program, as well as Associated Student Body leaders and the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). La Serna’s English teachers also made a significant contribution, excusing students from class to participate in the application workshop.

“We want to make sure that our students understand we are all speaking the same language,” La Serna counselor Elba Solis said. “The events also provide extra motivation for our students. Friends see their classmates working on applications and they want to do it. We held the Celebration Day at lunchtime because we want our underclassmen to see what’s going on and get them excited about attending college as well.”

Whittier High also held its own “I Applied” event in October, where seniors worked together to fill out applications for UC, Cal State, and private universities, as well as community and trade colleges. Students received “Back to the Future”-themed t-shirts that read “Excited About My Future.”

Whittier High will host its own Commitment Week in spring 2026 to celebrate students who have committed to a school or enlisted in the Armed Forces.

“We are proud to offer programs and opportunities that set our students up for success as they pursue college, career, and life beyond high school,” La Serna Principal Griselda Castro said. “Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our Future Ready initiative…it’s inspiring to see our Lancer pride shine through in such a meaningful way.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS 

WUHSD_APPLIED1: La Serna High School seniors celebrate completing their college applications during the school Future Ready Celebration Day on Dec. 4.  

WUHSD_APPLIED2: Seniors from La Serna High School sport their ‘Future Ready’ school t-shirts after completing their college applications during the school’s Future Ready Celebration Day on Dec. 4. 

WUHSD_APPLIED3: La Serna High School seniors place “I Applied” stickers on a bulletin board during a Dec. 4 celebration recognizing their post-secondary plans.

WUHSD_APPLIED4: Whittier High School seniors participate in a Future Ready event in October, which saw a number of students fill out their college applications.