Whittier Union Continuation School Graduate Gives Back While Looking Toward Future Frontier High School Class of 2018 graduate Brianna Aguirre has a passion for helping young adults get a fresh start. As a youth program aide for Río Hondo America’s Job Center of California (AJCC), Aguirre serves as a career planner for current Frontier High students seeking to take advantage of AJCC’s Youth at Work program. Working from the Río Hondo AJCC satellite office, located on the Frontier High campus, Aguirre assists students looking to receive paid work experience that may lead to a long-term career pathway. For Aguirre, it’s a meaningful way to give back to the community that once offered her guidance and encouragement during her time at Frontier High, helping her find her path as a foster youth. “My experience at Frontier High transformed my life and gave me the tools I needed to succeed in college and career,” Aguirre said. “When I arrived at Frontier, I met teachers and administrators who took a personal interest in my success. It is an honor to give back to Frontier and help students who find themselves in the same situation I was in.” Frontier High Principal Margie Moriarty said she was impressed with Aguirre because of the effort she put in to learn her rights as a foster child, doing her own research into programs that help support foster youth in college, like iFoster and the Alliance for Children’s Rights. “Brianna was already working towards her future, and I saw her potential, both as a college student and as a leader and mentor,” Moriarty said. “Frontier High has a large foster youth community, and I meet with all the students to ensure they know about programs like Guardian Scholars, that support foster youth in college. Brianna was a self-starter and just needed a little additional support and guidance.” Aguirre was encouraged to supplement her high school studies by taking college-level courses through Río Hondo College’s (RHC) Dual Enrollment program, including classes in sociology and counseling. At the same time, Aguirre found employment at Party City through the agency’s Youth at Work program, which provided jobs with enough flexibility so that she could pursue an associate’s degree at RHC, then move on to an undergraduate program at Cal State Fullerton. After receiving her business administration for transfer degree at RHC, Aguirre entered the Río Hondo AJCC intern program in 2023 before being hired full-time as a career planner at the beginning of 2024, working from the Frontier High office. As an AJCC Youth at Work career planner, Aguirre assists with job placement and resume building, while placing students into full-time positions at local retailers like Smart & Final, Walgreens, the Cream and Sugar Café in La Mirada, and the Jovenes Inc. homeless shelter office in Whittier. The work gives Aguirre fulfillment, even as she moves closer to the next chapter of her life, pursuing a career in international business and finance, focusing on global trade. Aguirre graduated from Cal State Fullerton on May 20 with two bachelor’s degrees – one in international business and one in finance. “I have a great interest in business and finance, especially in the foreign markets,” Aguirre said. “Current events have inspired me to pursue a career in international finance and business, but I will never forget always being thankful for the love and support I received at Frontier High, allowing me to get where I am today. Thank you to Margie Moriarty and everyone at the school who has supported me in my journey.” PHOTO CAPTION WUHSD_FRONTIER: Frontier High School Class of 2018 graduate Brianna Aguirre now serves as a career planner for Río Hondo America’s Job Center of California, helping current Frontier High students seeking to take advantage of the AJCC’s Youth at Work program. Aguirre graduated from Cal State Fullerton on May 20, double majoring in international business and finance.
