A Dream Deferred | HBCU Conference 2025
Highlights from the Future Ready! Student Experience
Learning happens both inside and outside the classroom.
One by one, four yellow buses pull into Downtown Los Angeles carrying students from the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). This wouldn’t be an ordinary school day for the high schoolers from grades 9–12. They are geared up for Future Ready! Student Experience, a student-focused college and career event coinciding with the 2025 A Dream Deferred™ and HBCU Conferences on March 5, 2025.
The day offers students the chance to network, explore future-focused opportunities, and gain valuable insights into educational pathways. “Learning happens both inside and outside the classroom,” says Leandra Grinage, associate director of advocacy and access from College Board’s Higher Education, Membership, and Access division.
Advice from Current College Students
LBUSD students heard from a panel of near-peer college students. Moderated by Zenzile Riddick, PhD candidate at Harvard University, the three panelists—Kinnedy Morgan from UCLA, Jaren Savage from the University of Southern California, and Senay Zedingel from UCLA—all grew up in California like the high schoolers they were speaking to.
“Don’t be afraid to try things out,” recalls Savage, who shared his path from community college to taking a break from school to landing at USC.
Left to right: Moderator Zenzile Riddick with panelists Senay Zedingel, Kinnedy Morgan, and Jaren Savage
Insights from The New York Times Bestseller, Tomi Adeyemi
“Everything you need is in you. It’s not in some university. It’s not in some teacher. You already have it. Just start writing,” advises Tomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood and Bone, whose movie adaptation is currently in filming.
Adeyemi, who pulled inspiration from her Nigerian roots to craft her novel, shared her challenges and triumphs turning from young student to professional writer. She praised two creative writing classes in senior year of high school as turning points in helping her discover her love of writing.
Dr. Jarvis R. Givens (left) and Author Tomi Adeyemi (right)
A College Fair Exclusively Hosted for LBUSD Students
The Future Ready! Student Experience culminated in a college fair featuring:
- Coalition for College
- Princeton University
- Howard University
- Lincoln University of Missouri
- Loyola Marymount University
- University of Delaware
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Occidental College
- Caltech
- Stanford University
- Bowie State University
- University of Southern California
- University of California, Berkeley
- Lycoming College
Additionally, College Board provided information on resources and programs, including BigFuture® college and career planning tools, AP® African American Studies, and AP Career Kickstart™.
