• El Monte Middle School students from rural Orosi, CA had a life-changing field trip to Google HQ and Stanford University.
• The Google CodeNext program helped fund this trip, exposing underserved students to tech careers and college.
• The experience provided many students with significant “firsts,” broadening their worldviews.

Orosi, California, is a small, rural community tucked away in the heart of the Central Valley. For many families in Orosi, economic hardship is a daily reality, and opportunities that might seem commonplace elsewhere are often out of reach. In this setting, where college can feel like a distant dream and exposure to cutting edge technology is limited, providing students with eye-opening experiences becomes even more crucial. That’s why a recent field trip for students at El Monte Middle School was so much more than just a day away from school. It was an experience that truly opened doors to a world many had only dreamed of.

As part of Google’s CodeNext Program, about 40 seventh and eighth graders embarked on a memorable journey to the Bay Area, gaining insights that will likely shape their futures. The CodeNext program itself is designed to bring computer science opportunities to underserved populations, making this trip a perfect fit for the El Monte students.

The day kicked off with a guided tour of Google Headquarters. Imagine stepping into the heart of innovation, seeing firsthand where amazing technology comes to life. This was a truly eye-opening start for students who don’t often get to experience environments like this. After that, the group explored Stanford University on a self-guided tour. For many, it was their very first time visiting any university campus, let alone one as prestigious as Stanford.

The day wrapped up with dinner at Buca di Beppo in Palo Alto. This might seem like a small detail, but for students unaccustomed to sit-down restaurants where they order from a menu and are served by waitstaff, it was a significant and new experience. It was a chance to practice social skills in a new setting and simply enjoy a meal in a different way.

This entire incredible experience was largely made possible through the CodeNext program, which aims to bring computer science opportunities to underserved communities. Beyond the field trip, CodeNext provided an Intro to Web Development curriculum that enriched teacher Chris Swanson’s STEM class. Students used this curriculum to build their own personal websites and even had video calls with Googlers who offered valuable feedback on their projects. To add to the excitement, CodeNext also provided cool swag like Google T-shirts, water bottles, pens, notebooks, and stickers.

This trip was a powerful reminder of how important it is to expose students to diverse experiences. For many El Monte students, it was their first time visiting the Bay Area, their first time seeing a university, and their first time ordering at a restaurant like Buca di Beppo. These are the kinds of experiences that can spark curiosity, broaden horizons, and empower young minds to dream bigger.

This blog post was drafted with the help of Google Gemini to help organize and flesh out my thoughts and ideas regarding El Monte Middle School’s experience with the Google CodeNext Program. I also used NotebookLM to generate a deep dive audio overview, perfect for those who want to listen and learn on the go.