With cheers, caps, and gowns filling the hallways, YES Prep East End Elementary and East End Secondary came together once again for a tradition that’s become a powerful symbol of community and the future: the 3rd Annual Elementary Walk and Bell Ringing Assembly.
Each year, graduating seniors from East End Secondary return to their former elementary school hallways to walk side by side with kindergarten students in a moment that bridges generations. Dressed in matching caps and gowns, the pairs walk hand in hand, representing both the journey accomplished and the path ahead. This year, the event held even deeper meaning for one family, marking a full-circle moment years in the making.
Jessica Trejo, Director of College Counseling at East End Secondary, walked the route not just as a staff member and alumni, but as a parent. Her son, Adam Escobedo, a kindergartener at East End Elementary, joined the tradition for the first time!
“As a YES Prep alum and now a Director of College Counseling, participating in this tradition from a new dual lens—as a parent and a team member—hits differently,” Trejo said. “It’s emotional, grounding, and an incredible full-circle experience.”
The elementary walk begins with seniors departing the secondary campus, where students in other grades line the first-floor hallway, cheering with signs, clapping, and waving popsicle sticks featuring senior faces. The energy carries over as seniors arrive at the elementary campus, where each senior pins their kindergarten partner and places a stole with both school logos over their shoulders. In return, Explorer Family Association moms and staff place a stole on each senior.
Trejo’s moment went far beyond tradition, it was personal.
“My own child, Adam, leading the line of kindergartners with the seniors added a layer of generational meaning,” she said. “To walk with him, to put that stole on him, was emotional. It’s not just professional anymore—it’s personal. It’s family.”
As a graduate of YES Prep herself, Trejo said the walk reminded her of how her own college journey began. She credits her counselors, teachers, and YES Prep’s IMPACT Program for helping her attend Grinnell College, a decision she calls life-changing. Now, she helps guide East End seniors through the same milestones, from applications, essays, FAFSA completion and acceptance letters.
“Watching them return to where it all began, knowing they’re college-bound, is a powerful reminder that our work matters,” she said. “This also serves as a reminder that college is possible for all students, regardless of the obstacles they’ve faced.”
“Even our youngest students walk away knowing that college isn’t just a dream—it’s an expectation,” Trejo said. “That early exposure matters.”
To families considering YES Prep, Trejo offered heartfelt advice.
“Don’t just look for a school—look for a community that will see your child, believe in them, and fight for their future like you do,” she said. “YES Prep changed my life—and now, it’s helping shape my son’s. I wouldn’t want him anywhere else.”
As the bell rang and the walk ended, it wasn’t just about the seniors' next steps, it was about the kindergartners watching, dreaming, and beginning their own journeys. And for the Trejo family, it was a moment that proved YES Prep isn’t just where futures begin, it’s where legacies are made!
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