My Education Story

We want to hear your story! Our campaign is working to restore funding to California’s public education system. Of course, we believe that the best way to do this is by closing the Corporate Tax Loophole and making corporations pay their fair share. However, we also know that personal narratives are a key aspect of every movement. 
We want to hear stories from our supporters about their experience with California’s underfunded public education system. Sharing your personal story allows us to show that the lack of education funding in California has real consequences for real people. Some of our most powerful stories have included: 

• How increasing college tuition has impacted you.

• How a lack of funding has caused cuts to programs at your school.

• How have you have had to tap into your own pocket to buy supplies for your classroom.

Guide to Submitting Your Story

Please limit your submission to 100 words or less per question. We ask that you answer all questions relevant to your experience to the best of your ability. Finally, don’t forget to upload your best selfie! If you have any questions, please email Emily Cagape at emily@evolve-ca.org, or by phone at 415-800-1155. 

You can share your story by clicking here. Thank you for helping to grow our movement! 

What Our Project is About

The Evolve California team created the “Our Story” Project for one simple reason; to show the personal side of our movement. While discussing things we can do to further our campaign, it came to our attention that every movement needs a face and a story to get behind. We know that our campaign has many faces, as well as many stories, and we want to show them all. This project is meant to show that education is something that affects everyone. Every person has a personal experience with education that has touched them in one way or another. By starting this project, we demonstrate that education is something that everyone can fight for. 

Our Stories

Jessi Thixton

Jessi was a student at the University of California Berkeley and was a Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you?

K-12 public education is undoubtedly one of the most important building blocks of our society. It is in this space that children will establish a sense of hope and purpose. Their introductory experiences with other young people and adult figures are entirely dependent on adequate funding. With overcrowded classrooms, faulty teacher salaries and scarce resources, students are growing up with a negative perception of schools and do not feel supported by them. Public schools should be a safe space where all youth can establish goals and visions for their futures. 

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

I was fortunate enough to grow up in a school district that was well-funded by parents and donors. However, community members should not hold the burden of financing public services. I was made aware of the inequalities in California’s education system from a young age, when I saw my friends commute hours in Los Angeles traffic to be able to access a decent public school. At disproportionate levels, schools are unable to provide basic needs to their students, let alone support programs that will allow students to excel and feel impassioned. 

What made you want to pursue a career in education? How have budget cuts impacted your work?

Upper education tuition rates are inaccessible and exclusionary. Without state grants and aid, I would be unable to attend a UC, even as a California resident. Relying on financial aid makes each year at a university incredibly stressful, and thousands of students are facing this same burden. The lack of funding for public universities puts a clear barrier on our student services and resources. For example, mental health counselors are drastically inaccessible, difficult class registration impedes on student success and oversized classrooms breed competition rather than collaboration.

Gillian Garaci

Gillian is a student at the University of California Berkeley and is a Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you?

I view education as a pathway to not only create an aware and productive public, but a means to leveling the inequalities present in society. I am lucky that although my high school was underfunded, and the only high school in its school district, I was able to reap significant benefits that have allowed me to pursue and grow several of my interests and further my intellectual exploration. Many other students, however, do not have this benefit and have felt the consequences of our underfunded education system. Neglected students don’t receive the adequate assistance from instructors that qualifies them acceptance into higher education that will allow for class mobility and a better future.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

The most prevalent example of Pittsburg High School’s deficient funding was the teacher strikes that occurred during my Junior and Senior year of high school. Teachers were not receiving the salary that they deserved, especially since a lot of them take time away from their personal lives to adequately prepare and conduct their classes. Normally, teachers, especially those greatly dedicated to the betterment of their students, would come in an hour or more early to their classrooms to be available for any questions kids would have before class. Teachers would also not have enough time in the workday to grade papers and prepare for their classes, so they resort to taking time from their personal lives to do so. This does not also mention the fact that several of my teachers have also dipped into their own funds to appropriately provide classes the learning resources that we needed. When the strike was going on, papers were graded later, feedback on work was less available, and teachers themselves seemed more stressed out. The teachers of my high school had to do what they needed to in order for them to receive their proper pay; and I applaud them for it.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

I first took up Political Science as my major with the intention of attending law school in the future. However, with the increasing cost of college and, simultaneously, law school, I needed to reassess where my future would lead. Not only are the costs of the school itself increasing, but the barriers to even qualify are getting larger and larger, preventing a diversity of backgrounds from pursuing the profession. For example, for a student to do well on the LSAT, a good prep program must be enrolled in—the best ones can cost up to a thousand dollars. There is no doubt that this will greatly impact how I will proceed not only with my post-graduation life, but also with how I will conduct my undergrad life.

Grace Elam

Grace is a student at the University of California Berkeley and is a Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you?

Growing up in the Bay Area, I’ve been able to meet students across multiple school districts, with varying levels of funding and resources. What I’ve seen is that inequality begins at the very earliest stages of life, namely early education. A good education is what gives students the resources, opportunities, and knowledge base to build a successful future, and a poorly-funded education has the inverse result: it puts students in poorly-funded districts at a severe disadvantage. While I’ve met students in Marin and Oakland with equivalent passion and ambition, I’ve seen that the better-funded, North Bay districts are able to provide their students with much more support towards finding internships and jobs that expand their knowledge base and advance their career, while East Bay districts often struggle to meet the student demand with the counselors that they are able to pay for.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

The public high school that I attended in San Francisco was an administrative mess. In order to make ends meet with funding, the school had to accept more and more students each year. I began my freshman year with approximately 600 students across all four grades. By the time I graduated, the school had a student population of 800: a 30% increase in just four years. We received no additional classrooms, which meant that class sizes also increased by a third in just the four years that I attended. Classrooms were already overcrowded when I was admitted, so I can only imagine how much worse it was for the freshman four years later. Also as a result of the unprecedented expansion, the staff turnover rates were ridiculous: in each of the four years that I attended, at least two new teachers were hired, which led to switching up classes in the middle of the semester and immeasurable chaos as far as curriculum was concerned. Additionally, counselors were completely overwhelmed: no student felt sufficiently supported by the administrative staff, simply because the staff was stretched too thin across the growing population.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

The rising costs of even public universities across California has led to unprecedented financial strain for my family. Tax season becomes more and more stressful every year, and in order to meet tuition demands, I am no longer able to take real breaks when school is not in session. During this last summer, I worked three paid jobs in order to help fund just my first year of college. As stressful as all of this may be for me, I know it is much, much worse for many of my peers. I am fortunate to be able to pay for my school by working three jobs: some of my classmates in high school didn’t even have that option, and instead now attend free community colleges with fewer resources than UC Berkeley, or are unable to attend college this year at all because they instead need to work and save money for tuition.

Miyah Saeyang

Miyah is a student at the University of California Berkeley and is a Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you?

Education, to me, is a form of empowerment and growth. I was fortunate enough to go to a school with the resources and funding necessary to provide me with a good education and make it into a college that would allow me to expand on my interests. My time in the education system has allowed me to not only find a career path but also learn how to think about the world more critically. Mainstream thought has pushed the idea that school is meant for bettering oneself and opening someone’s life to new opportunities, but it seems hypocritical when students are put in a place of limited resources to do such things. Education is important to me because I believe that the world needs to support the growth of an empowered population.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

My parents grew up in immigrant families with low household incomes and in areas with very limited funding for public education, hindering their ability to focus on their studies and gain a quality education. Growing up, they made it a priority to place me in a position that would allow me the opportunities that they never received. I am lucky to be where I am because of those opportunities and to have been brought up in an environment that fostered my ability to take advantage of them. Though I personally haven’t been negatively impacted by lack of education funding, I understand that many aren’t as fortunate and we live in a system that favors people born into advantageous circumstances. It has become increasingly more clear to me that our current system does not seek to change this. It is up to us, the people, to make a difference.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

Graduating from high school, I was not sure how I was going to be paying for school. My parents were unable to aid me in tuition costs and I had a limited amount of money saved up for college. In years before, I worried whether I would be able to pay for the next and I’ve worked other jobs on and off to keep up with the costs of school and other expenses. Fortunately, I was able to get a scholarship that covered the costs of this year, but it is not guaranteed that this will be offered in the future. Unfortunately, this is a reality for a lot of university students. Instead of focusing on their studies, we often have to think about how we’ll be able to afford to be a student or whether being a student is even worth the money. Higher education should not be made so expensive that it seems unattainable or a privilege for the wealthy, but should be a right for those who want to apply themselves.

Katherine McLaughlin

Kat is a student at the University of California Berkeley and is a Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you? 

Moving to California for university completely altered my perception of education. I had yet to recognize what education could be, merely what the implications of poor funding were back home. Education has the ability to foster critically conscious students and community members, who not only are conscious of intersecting oppressions in the world but also feel they have the power to change them. When prioritized, education can empower students of all backgrounds and restore some political power to those most marginalized by systems of oppression. K-12 education should be a societal right and priority, not an afterthought.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

As a product of the Arizona public education system, one of the few states continually ranked lower than California, my eyes were opened at an early age to the detrimental impact of neglecting education. My classrooms were over run, teacher turn over high, and counselor support for out of state ambitions low. However, at Berkeley, I watched many of these same problems replicated at a greater, more individually expensive scale, in everything from the housing crisis to caps placed on majors and classes. Berkeley's lack of funding inevitably harms those at intersecting points of oppression the most, thus turning its back on the very people liberal education claims to protect and uplift.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

Out of state higher education was encouraged by my parents from a young age to expand my experiences and worldview. However, actually transforming this idealistic dream into a reality with financial consequences has grown more difficult for my family every year. I am fortunate enough to have the financial support to access California's higher education system, but I know many of my qualified peers from home simply did not have the ability to. If I chose to continue my education after undergraduate, I must make peace with the inevitable financial hardship education will place on life. Students should not have to bear the burden of enormous debt coming out of higher education.

Nathan Roura

Nathan is a student at University of Colorado Boulder and is a former Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you? 

Education has provided me with the tools and resources to think critically about the world around me. It has opened many doors for me and I am grateful to have had access to it from such a young age. I always remember to value what I have learned and stay motivated to continue learning throughout my life. However, I know that many people don't have the same access to education. It is important to me that we work to ensure people have access to a good and quality education regardless of who they are or where they're from.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you? 

I grew up going to California public schools. Because my high school was the only high school in the school district, classes were often overcrowded. I rarely had a class size under 30 and because teachers and counselors were not paid enough in comparison to other school districts nearby, many staff members felt pressure to leave. When I look back on my experience now, I understand why they would want to leave even if they love their job. But unfortunately, the lack of funding and resources affects our ability to learn.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

I was always told by the people I looked up to that college is always worth the costs. But now I question this on a daily basis of whether it was right for me to take such a big financial risk. When I made the decision to go to college out of state, I initially thought I had more support through scholarships and financial aid. However, one of my scholarships was taken away when I decided to change my major and financial aid was not as helpful as I needed it to be. While I am lucky to have the ability to access federal loans, I am constantly stressed by rapidly rising interest rates. I am working as much as I can to try to offset some of the debt I have but it always feels like I'm barely making any dents. I am now considering graduating a semester early to ease some of the financial pressure in the future.

I know that I am not the only one feeling the pressure of rising costs of college. I and many of my peers on campus ration our food more by skipping meals so that we save money. A student organization recently saw this as a problem and started pop up food pantries around campus once a month. I have heard stories of other students living in their cars in order to feel less pressure from college costs. Students should not have to worry about whether or not they can eat because of the costs of college.

Lindsey Chung

Lindsey is a student at the University of California Berkeley and is a former Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you? 

Public education was conceptualized as an institution that would fight inequality by offering all children an equal chance in life. Unfortunately, schools are currently failing to live up to this goal. Instead, they function as sorting machines that ingrain current inequalities into the next generation. Education policies and systems must be reformed so that they accommodate and serve all students, especially those who experience oppression based on their race, gender, ability, and other identities. Only then will schools be able to act as the equalizer they are meant to be.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you? 

I had the immense privilege of attending well-funded private schools through high school. I was so lucky to have small class sizes and teachers who cared about my learning. Upon arriving at Berkeley, I came face to face with how much of an advantage this was. Most of my peers did not have teachers who would meet with them individually to talk about their writing. Some did have the option to take AP classes they would have wanted to take. These disadvantages don’t just go away when everyone gets to a place like Berkeley. Those who don’t come from privileged K-12 educational backgrounds take classes that others were able to pass out of. They continue to work on their writing while others have already been provided with the resources to help them master it. Educational background and inadequate K-12 education ultimately help determine who feels like they belong at institutions like Berkeley, and they disproportionately affect students who already face multiple layers of oppression.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

My dad always talks about the student protests when UC Berkeley’s registration fees went up from $200 to $275. Now, registration fees have been replaced by proper tuition, and this tuition is so high that it forces students to choose between which basic needs they want to satisfy. Berkeley does not pay its workers a living wage, it can barely offer students one year of housing, and it still demands more tuition every year. California’s “public” UC system is no longer public. From the prohibitively high cost of tuition to the elitist knowledge it prioritizes over lived experiences, the UC’s fail to serve the state of Californian as they are meant to.

Valeria Ballesteros

Valeria is a student at the University of San Francisco and is a former Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you? 

Education is essential to development. I use this broad word—development— to encompass the development of the mind, the person, the well-being of the people, economic development, infrastructure, relations, connections. We have everything around us because of education. Without being taught how to read, write, think for oneself, critically analyze, and all the tools that education provides—development would not happen. Education enables people to develop ideas and make those ideas a reality. It provides the person with knowledge and a feeling of empowerment that go a long way. Look at everything around you—education made it happen.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you? 

I was fortunate enough to have parents who were able to send me to private school from an early age. But regardless, I did see how the lack of education funding affected my friends. While in community college, they struggled to find classes and graduate in two years because of the lack of resources, such as counselors, class availability and aid. By reforming Prop. 13, we can would restore billions to K-12 public education and community colleges!

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

The start of every school year is always nerve wrecking. I get a lot of anxiety and stress as I have to make numerous phone calls to the university to check on my financial aid status. Every year, my tuition increases, and every year I get nervous I won’t be able to afford it. College seems like a race now, I just want it to be over so I don’t have to deal with tuition, textbooks and school supplies, and housing expenses. I worry about how things are back home every day because my parents are spending money on me to receive a quality education.  

Tyler Gazzaniga

Tyler is a student at the University of California, Berkeley and is a former Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you?

 My parents have always stressed the importance of a high quality education, and I consider myself very lucky because of it. I know from personal experience just how much children are shaped by their classroom environments. It is during those early years that kids learn essential critical thinking and social skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives, and our current education system simply cannot provide our youth with what they need. This leads kids to being at an immediate disadvantage; one that becomes harder and harder to overcome as the years go by.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you? 

 I consider myself very fortunate that I was able to attend a well-funded public school district in my K-12 years. However, both of my parents have been educators at a neighboring school district that is drastically underfunded. I often joined them at work during the summer months at their year-round schools, and going from my relatively affluent and adequately resourced classrooms to see their overcrowded ones less than 20 minutes away where the vast majority of students are not reading at grade level was extremely eye-opening. The disparity that I saw has stuck with me throughout my life, and has allowed me to understand the difference that a fully funded education experience can have in someone’s life.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

I began to run into a serious dilemma my senior year when applying to colleges. My parents have been able to provide my sister and I with a good life, and were smart about their savings. However, they are still working with a teacher’s salary. This put me in a situation where I was not able to receive financial aid, but my parents were in no position to fund my college education without a second thought. It has been a struggle for my family and I to afford the rising tuition and housing prices, and has only added to my frustration that these rising costs are putting students that are trying to better themselves at immediate disadvantages when they leave college to begin their lives.

Jennifer Ayala

Jennifer is a student at the University of San Francisco and is a former Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you? 

Education plays a vital role in society in the sense that it has the ability to not only create self-awareness, but also create awareness of the issues that surround your community. As you grow older, it is very difficult not to notice the injustices that take place all over the world and we need education to help us find our own voices to stand up for what is right. Everyone should have access to quality education, yet it is important to note that not all do. Education should not be a privilege, it should be a right. 

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you? 

I have been very fortunate enough to attend private school in the city of San Francisco my whole life. My parents have always been there to support me and push me to do my best. I also have had very great teachers that have pushed me to never lose sight of who I am and who I want to be. Despite going to private school, I was always very aware of the public school system and the challenges many students and teachers face. Due to the lack of funding, classes are often packed with students, students and staff do not feel supported, and teachers lack the resources they need to give their students the best schooling experience. Through more funding for education, together we can change this and help create environments where students can thrive. 

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

The increasing cost of college is honestly scary and it would be less stressful is colleges actually offered enough aid. I have not been fortunate enough to receive grants or aid for college and I honestly feel like I am stuck in a hole that keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. This is an issue. Education is the cornerstone of life, yet it costs a fortune to actually obtain a degree. 

Ezra Christianson-Buck

Ezra is a student at the University of San Francisco and is a former Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you?

Historically, education has been treated as a privilege, used by the elite and bourgeois to oppress the lower classes -- often people of color. Education is the first step to revolution, and the reason many of us have been deprived of it is because those in power know that. I want every single individual across not only the United States, but the world, to find their voice and fight back against that oppression.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

I came from Washington state, which has one of the best public education systems in the country. I was incredibly lucky to receive a quality public education in my pre-k-8th grade schooling, as well as a private high school education because of a scholarship. However, as I am now going through an education program in California and I am distressed and disappointed at the low-quality, often highly racially and economically disparate school system that the "most liberal" state in the country has to offer its youth. California is not doing justice to its children. 

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

I have been lucky because my family has the ability to take out loans, and that I have had the privilege of being able to focus almost solely on my education in order to get scholarships and other financial assistance. However, the tens of thousands of dollars I currently have in debt keep both me and my mother awake at night, and every year I'm asked for more and more money that I do not have. I am especially worried going into a field of public service like education, where I am probably going to be paid a criminally small salary, that I will never pay my debts off fully.

Kimberly McAllister

Kimberly McAllister is a student at the University of San Francisco and is a former Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you?

Education is empowerment. When quality education is made accessible to all students, education can foster a conscious, responsible, and successful citizenry. As a Politics major, I am concerned about the sovereignty of the people. I believe that empowerment through education is the best anecdote to disenfranchisement. We need an education system that will enable each student to reach individual success, while working in harmony for the common good. Education has empowered me to be critical, aware, and eager. My education has encouraged me to be altruistic by igniting my passion for social justice. Education empowered me so that I can work to empower others.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

I grew up very privileged. I was blessed enough to have a family that could afford to send me to private school for my middle school and high school education. Even in university, I am lucky enough to receive aid, grants, and scholarships to fund my academic pursuits after my family could no longer support me like they could in my childhood. Even now, I receive support from my mother. I am in a unique position. Not all students' cards are stacked like mine. I have many friends who are struggling to stay afloat and working multiple jobs to fund their own education. It hurts me to see how hard they have to work, but I am inspired by their resilience and strength. I know that better education funding would work to empower students like my friends, and allow them to focus their efforts primarily on schoolwork.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

It is anxiety-inducing. While I receive aid every year, I can never be certain that my aid will be sufficient to fund my education until I receive my award. So far, I have been lucky enough to receive enough aid, but not without frequent trips to the financial aid office and many phone calls.

Madeline Cook

Madeline Cook graduated from Macalester College and is a former Campaign Intern at Evolve.

Why is education important to you?

From a very young age my mom would always say that a good education was the most important gift that she could give me. While this seemed irrelevant to me as a child, I know now that my mom was right. Our defining years are spent in a classroom, and the inequalities that exist in that space reflect the socio-economic, racial, gender, and other inequalities of the world outside that room. In turn, this deepens their grip on society and societal stuctures, as those with less privilege get left behind in overcrowded, underfunded classrooms. All children deserve a rich and empowering education that transcends these boundaries.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

Having graduated 8th grade amid drastic budget cuts to my local high school and talks of closing it down, I was able to attend a private high school. This was a privilege that I do not take lightly. Attending this type of school had monumental impacts on me, and I developed a love of learning and passion for understanding the world. I had room to find my voice in small classrooms and personal time with my teachers. This should be the norm and it should not deplete a family’s resources to achieve it.

Genevieve Lorin Davis

Genevieve Lorin Davis is a graduate of Wells College and a former campaign organizer at Evolve.

Why is education important to you? 

Coming from a family of educators and being an educator myself, the topic of education is something that is incredibly close to me. I’ve had the privilege of experiencing education on both sides of the spectrum in terms of resources-- I was able to attend both privately funded, affluent schools and deeply underfunded Oakland public schools. Witnessing that type of injustice and inequity in the contrasting experiences solidified my passion and fueled my journey to assure that every person has equal access to a quality education regardless of their socioeconomic standing. It led me to understand that education is not only a bridge to close the opportunity gap in terms of social mobility in this country but is also vital for the function of America’s democracy. 

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you? 

One of the first times I was able to truly identify inequity in education was in my transition from a private middle school to an Oakland public high school. While I graduated eighth grade with only 40 other students, my incoming class at Oakland Technical High School was 800. My first day of freshman year, some of my classes were so overenrolled that there weren’t enough desks for students to sit at and several students were reduced to sitting on the counters lining the classroom. The challenges continued throughout high school-- the lack of textbooks, school supplies, and overcrowded classrooms. Though the underfunding negatively contributed to my high school education, I found that the population of students and what they had to share in class as well as the dedication of many of my teachers-- even when they had very little support--educated me in ways that I wouldn’t have been able to experience other places. It allowed me to understand the necessity for both a well-resourced education and a diverse population-something that benefits every party involved. 

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you? 

When looking at colleges my senior year of high school, it was a shock to learn that attending a private college in New York would actually be less expensive or the same amount as attending state colleges in California. Furthermore, many of the factors in educational experience that I knew I needed to succeed academically were simply not available at state schools such as small class sizes and thoroughly engaged faculty. Relying on my mother’s income as a public high school teacher who was also putting another child through college with one more to come after me, I graduated college with a fair amount of debt for both my family and me. I truly feel that everyone has the right to further their education as far as they want to without taking on massive amounts of debt. However, that is just not the reality right now and that negatively impacts our entire population. 

Angèle Griffin

Angèle Griffin is a student at the University of San Francisco and a former Evolve campaign intern.

Why is education important to you?

Education is far more than going to school everyday learning how to properly graph a parabola. In this day and age, education is the gateway to many career opportunities and higher education that one cannot attain without a strong foundation in the K-12(14) program. Education is more than just sitting in a classroom and memorizing everything the teacher writes on the board. With strong education, our children will be able to continue strengthening their critical thinking, a skill that is applicable to all areas of the world,and develop other important skills that limited education access cannot properly fulfill.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

Although I was enrolled in a public school system throughout my childhood, I was fortunate enough to attend one of the higher ranked chain of schools that pushed their students to pursue a higher education after graduation. However, California's poor education funding impacts were, and still are, very prevalent in both the student population and our teacher faculty. A good portion of students who attended my high school when I was still enrolled didn't even live in our city; I had friends who commuted 45 minutes on the freeway to and from the school everyday for four years. The majority of faculty members who were not AP teachers were struggling because they were all being underpaid.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

I feel the brunt of increasing college tuition every semester; at the end of every school year, we, the students, get an email from our university signifying that they will, once again, be increasing tuition by X thousands of dollars for the following school year. The increased prices from not only tuition costs, but also purchasing textbooks and other school supplies, that can easily accumulate up to over $500, and living expenses can really start to weigh down on people, especially college students who are already carrying a lot in our hands.

Emily Cagape

Emily Cagape is a graduate of the University of San Francisco and the Campaign Coordinator at Evolve.

Why is education important to you?

Education is one of the most important social institutions because it gives us not only the knowledge, values, skills and opportunities needed to succeed, but also the ability to recognize inequalities and to be critical of them. Every person deserves equal access to a quality education, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Unfortunately, not everybody has access to this.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

I was fortunate enough to attend private school from preschool through 8th grade and then a charter school for my freshmen year in high school. At those schools, I had several resources such as tutoring and college preparation as well as passionate teachers who continuously challenged me to think critically of the world. The next year, I transferred to my home public school—one of the lowest funded public high schools in San Jose. Classes were overcrowded, teachers were overwhelmed, and resources were severely limited. I was lucky enough to transfer to a different public school that had enough funding to provide programs such as Middle College. In Middle College I took college classes nearly full time as a high schooler. I feel so grateful to have been given such an amazing opportunity through my home public school.

However, kids shouldn’t have to transfer to schools or go to private schools to have a quality education. Lack of education funding amongst schools leads to more inequality. We deserve to have equal education opportunities regardless of where we live or whether we can afford it or not.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

I go to a private university and while I really love it here, the tuition is extremely high. University would have been absolutely unaffordable for me if I did not have the numerous amount of scholarships and grants funding my education. When applying for universities in high school, I had to take into account my financial barriers. I got into one of my dream schools but because the tuition there was too high and my scholarships did not count in other states, I had to turn down my acceptance there or else face crushing student debts. In the end, I chose the college that gave me the most funding. I am extremely fortunate to have gotten nearly a full scholarship but even so, I struggle financially. While trying to focus full time on my studies, I have had to have a job throughout all of my university years—sometimes multiple jobs at a time. After leaving the dorms, I have had to pay my own rent, utilities, and groceries by myself without other financial support. Just the cost of living near school is difficult; imagine having to pay high tuition bills on top on that. Without scholarships, I wouldn't even be in college. Even after I graduate, I will have small loans to pay back. How can higher education be more accessible when it's simply not affordable to most?

Joshua Bolger

Joshua Bolger is a graduate of the University of San Francisco and a former Evolve campaign intern.

Why is education important to you?

Education is important because it is what develops the youth of our society, so that they can be functioning members within our society. Receiving an adequate education opens so many different opportunities for individuals, and it is unacceptable that some people cannot have the same opportunities because their school was not funded properly. Receiving an education teaches individuals skills for jobs in the future along with social skills. Every child should be given access to adequate schooling that allows them to fully develop their skills for the future.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

I have been fortunate enough to go to private school for both elementary and high school, however through coaching youth soccer teams in my hometown I have seen the effects lack of funding has had on the children. Many parents would tell me about the lack of programs at the local schools, and how several extracurricular activities were cut due to funding. Listening to their complaints seemed surreal to me, because simple programs that I had at my school were not being provided. Seeing this I knew something was not right with the school funding in California.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

I attend a private university with a high tuition cost, and when I graduate at the end of this semester I will have to start paying off my loans soon after. I will likely be in debt paying off my school loans for a good portion of my life, and knowing and thinking about this gives any college student anxiety. The pressure to find a good paying job with your degree so that you can start paying off your loans weighs so heavy on students. This is the reality for students going to any university currently, and will burden us for many years after graduation.

Alexis Arellanes

Alexis Arellanes is a graduate of the University of San Francisco and a former Evolve campaign intern.

Why is education important to you?

Education is not only central to a progressive society but is a basic human right promised by the American dream. A strong educational background is imperative to an individual's pursuit of higher education and employment. I was fortunate enough to be raised by a single mother who instilled the importance of having access to a strong educational background. Due to the underfunded and heavily impacted public schools in my neighborhood, my mother chose to send me to private schools until the 10th grade. Due to change of financial status my junior year, I had to relocate to a public high school. During the stressful process of uprooting and relocating to a new city/county, I realized that there was a substantial difference between private and public education and that resource allocation in public institutions throughout California is not properly dispersed. Access to equal resources and education are imperative to the functionality and progression of society and should not be at the backburner of local or federal politics. 

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

Throughout my college career, I have centered my work experience around education policy and served as a literacy tutor for underserved districts in San Francisco as well as a lobbyist selected on behalf of my university to seek Cal-grant refunding for newly admitted low-income students. If the state continues to eliminate educational programs and access to monetary resources, our state will continue to impede on future generations' success. Access to a quality education should not be a luxury but a basic right.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

The financial burden during the college application process as well as the selection of which university to attend was solely dependent on the amount of financial aid/ scholarship I received. With graduation approaching, the daunting task of paying off my accumulated student debt once acquiring a fulltime position is disheartening. Rather than saving money earned and investing it towards my future, I will have to retroactively pay off my student loans.

Carly Schaaf

Carly Schaaf is the former Campaign Organizer at Evolve California and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

Why is education important to you?

Education is the bedrock of any well-functioning and desirable society. Regardless of one’s values or ideology, it’s likely that high-quality education constitutes an indispensable part of what one’s ideal society should guarantee access to. Education can instill the values, interests, and cognitive tools that allow people to make meaning of their lives, navigate important and complex decisions, and learn to live cooperatively with and around others.

These benefits not only make for a well-functioning democracy, but are what make education a major determinant of important life outcomes such as an health, happiness, and socioeconomic status. Given these important correlations, education should be treated with the kind of sanctity and care reserved for things that directly affect people’s health and safety. 

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

The educational part of my high school experience was lackluster. With around 45+ students per class, my teachers struggled to provide an educational experience that resembled the engaging, supportive, and warm environment an educational setting should be. Rather, the classroom felt like a holding cell and the teacher like a disciplinarian. With authority figures surrounding me, and little understanding of the importance of the content they were delivering, I responded poorly. I was directionless, insubordinate, and cared little for my longterm plans. It wasn’t until I began working in a service job the following year that I realized education is a gift, one that I should consider myself fortunate to have access to. Thanks to California’s community college system, I was able to act on my newfound appreciation for school, eventually transferring to UC Berkeley and graduating with a set of values and motivations that currently allow me to lead a life full of meaning that is driven by curiosity.

Unfortunately, these kinds of stories are too often hampered by the mountains of debt students face in seeking to get an education. I know firsthand the anxiety that student debt causes, and many would-be students find the prospect of debt altogether prohibitive. With the UC regents currently planning to raise tuition yet again, education is slated to become a luxury good, not a public one.

What made you want to pursue this career?

Given the transformative effects that a high quality education can have, the pervasive lack of access to it is disgraceful. I work on this issue because reforming Prop. 13 is the single best option California has in order to restore its public education system and fundamentally change the future of our society for the better.

Rachita Rawal

Rachita Rawal is a Campaign Organizer at Evolve California and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

Why is education important to you?

I see respect for each other and equality as fundamental to happiness within a society. However, such a society is unattainable unless we are all well educated. Obviously, there are a lot of systematic inequities–but a better education would allow us to become more aware of these injustices, and have more courage to fight them. By addressing systemic issues through additional funding to poorer areas, I do strongly believe that education is the one thing that can begin to end poverty and make our society fairer. This way, we can be a society that looks to find real solutions for our causes of unhappiness.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

I was fortunate enough to go to a private school named Montessori up until 3rd grade, when it became too difficult for my parents to afford any more. So they had to send me to public school after that. From elementary school to the public university I went to, I struggled with the large classrooms, few teachers, and the inability to ask the many questions I had. I definitely missed the personal attention I got at Montessori, which was integral to my learning and growth when I was younger.

What made you want to pursue this career?

I was volunteering at an elementary school in Oakland and witnessed how systematic inequalities between socioeconomic statuses have a big impact on the quality of education that children receive. It just did not seem enough to spend a few hours at the school playing and tutoring these kids. The plain and simple truth to me was that these schools needed more funding to ensure the best future and opportunities for the students. These inequities in accessing a good quality education have really stuck with me, and are what have motivated me to look for a real solution–which is what brought me to Evolve! Reforming Prop. 13 is the best way to restore sustainable revenue to make educational opportunities equal for all!

Alison Wuensch

Alison Wuensch is a graduate of the University of San Francisco and a former Evolve intern.

Why is education important to you?

My mom is a teacher, and when it was time for me and my brother to begin school, she recognized that the lack of resources in our St. Louis school district would negatively impact our education. She decided to move to another school district just so my brother and I could have a better education. I am deeply indebted to her for that, but I recognize that most people are not able to do that. I was fortunate enough to have an excellent public school education, and I want everyone to have that, regardless of their school district.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

I worked as a literacy tutor in elementary-school programs in the San Francisco Unified School District. I loved working with my students, but I recognized that they were not getting all the resources they needed for a good education. The teachers were doing their best with what resources they had, but educational resources should not have to be an issue. I want every single one of my students to have a good education with adequate resources, and I want every teacher I have worked with to feel they are giving the students a good education with the resources they deserve.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

Increasing costs of college mean that I will have more loans to pay back when I graduate and more time spent paying off those loans. It also means that more of my money goes to tuition and less to textbooks and other educational materials.

Dirk Tillotson

Dirk Tillotson is an educator at the non-profit Great School Choices. An excerpt of his blog post on Prop. 13 reform is below.

A Tale of Two Cities and Why We Need to Reform Prop. 13

Proposition 13 has devastated California’s education system.  And it’s worse than you even think.  Like the frog in the slowly boiling pot that doesn’t realize his predicament until it’s too late, I feel like California has become desensitized to its education funding crisis.  And unless we clean up our act quickly, we are going to be cooked.

As a guy who helps start schools in my day job, let me show you what finances in NYC look like versus those in Oakland, and how the formulas either increase equity and quality, or undermine them.  If you only have a vague sense of anger, you should be screaming by the end of this piece

California’s F in school funding

Prop 13 cut California’s state education budget from 9 billion to 6 billion over night. I have written before about California’s status at the bottom of the school funding barrel, but let me make this real for folks.

There are two important ways to think about school funding, (1) is it adequate? Is there enough base money to provide the standard supports for quality education and (2) is it equitable?  Some students will have higher needs and higher costs, and does the funding adjust to meet those higher needs students.

California fails miserably on both accounts, even with the latest improvements in the California’s funding formula that provides more funding to high needs students.  Those funds are vastly inadequate.

For the remainder of this excellent read on the state of education funding in California, see Dirk's full post.

Nicholas Moore

Nicholas Moore is a student at the University of California, Berkeley.

Why is education important to you?

I believe that education represents the greatest investment a society can make. It truly is a rising tide that lifts all boats. We all benefit when education opens up opportunity for our children to realize their fullest potential. Our economy and democracy flourish when the people are well educated.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

Anyone who has spent anytime in the California public school system knows we are not providing our children with the best possible education. I have seen the ways in which this impacts students at every level from Kindergarten to the UC system.

The library of my elementary school was unused my entire time there, as the school lacked funds to staff it. In high school I remember when a ballooning budget deficit forced my school to completely cancel all after-school activities. At community college, cutbacks of course offerings made it difficult to complete requirements on time. Now at the University of California system, tuition increases are adding to the financial burden of low income students.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

After graduating high school, I was unable to the afford to attend the UC school that I had been accepted to. When I found out that the money wasn't there, I was devastated. All the hard work I had put in during those four stressful years of high seemed for naught.

Luckily I was able to find a way to make my dream of a college education a reality. Four years of military service and dozens of night classes at the local community college later, I'm now finally getting my degree from the UC system.

However even though my story has a happy ending, it should not be this difficult for people to get a college education. One unlucky break and it could have ended differently for me. I recognize that there are so many other people who are not able to get over the cost obstacles, and that's why I consider it an obligation to fight for them.

Rafi Sands

Rafi Sands is a student at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Why is education important to you?

Education is the driver behind upward mobility and equal opportunity. It's at the core of the American dream, and without it societal progress on many fronts will be stalled.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

Lower funding and higher cost of attendance has limited my career opportunities to those that can pay the best, not necessarily what I want to do or what our society needs.

Rigel Robinson

Rigel Robinson is a student at the University of California, Berkeley

Why is education important to you?

I've been the product of public schools my whole life. I grew up in St. Louis seeing the inequities between my district and less resourced areas. Fighting the exorbitant cost of tuition ought to be the duty of every student like me who had the privilege to be able to pursue higher education.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

It's impossible to truly plan for the cost of attending a UC now. Reliably, at least one set of tuition hikes will be voted on during almost every student's time at a UC. Students succeeded in fighting the hikes in the fall of 2014, but last year even our united efforts weren't enough.

As federal student aid programs come under attack, it's more important now than ever that California lead the way in making higher education more affordable and accessible, without compromising quality.

Parshan Khosravi

Parshan Khosravi is a graduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Why is education important to you?

Education is the tool that has allowed me to have a voice in a world that otherwise would not care about my experiences and being.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

Education is the key to the future, and California's lack of funding in our education further shows the lack of insight that our officials have about what our future needs.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

I live in a house with 6 other people, sharing my room with two others. I work two different jobs and barely have food on my table sometimes. I have over $40,000 in loans. So yeah, with every dollar of increase in costs of education, I do have to ask myself the question of whether I could continue or not.

Wendy Morrison

Wendy Morrison is a special education teacher in early childhood education.

Why is education important to you?

I truly believe the quote that education is the great equalizer. I have spent a good deal of volunteer time working with teens from more and impoverished neighborhoods in Oakland. I see that one of the greatest disadvantages working against them is inadequate early education (preschool through elementary). It is really hard to get far in education when you don't even have a stable foundation. Gangs and crime only seem like a great option when you can't imagine a better way. Education broadens minds enough to imagine better ways of living.

As a teacher I work in a pretty unique role. I am a home visiting teacher working with children birth to age three identified with a developmental delay that is likely to impact their educational future. I work directly with the children, and more importantly educate parents and caregivers on the importance of early learning experiences and ways to create them with in every day routines. Our funding is federally mandated largely because of studies showing the cost savings of providing an early intervention model. Kids coming through programs like ours are better prepared academically. That means something different for every child (some of the children I work with have disabling conditions that will require some form of special education), but for every child is does mean a better outcome. I am proud to be part of California's early start program and happy that one exists, but often frustrated when I hear of comparisons to what is happening in other states with better funding. As one of the richest states we should be really ashamed at the state of our educational system.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

My salary is not terrible in comparison to some teachers in other districts and other parts of the educational system. That said, it could be much better. Teachers are woefully underpaid in California. When people just look at actual dollars and compare salaries, we are usually in the top of salary rankings, but when you factor in cost of living we always seem to fall below the bottom half in the spending power of our salaries rankings.

Being underpaid isn't the worst part about teaching in California. Especially for teachers who share a passion for teaching. The hardest part is the lack of resources. Trying to pull together educational resources and opportunities in a falling down school, with a lack of administrative support and budget is exhausting.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

I have two college-aged kids and the cost of their schooling is crippling. My husband and I decided that we didn't want our children to leave college with loan debts totaling any more than 1/2 of what their proposed starting annual salary might be. We knew they would need loans despite the savings accounts we created for them, but we didn't want their loans to be so insurmountable that they negated any financial advance of being college educated. This means we are barely getting by, but it is worth it. It is just sad that this is the American way.

My family is British and we have extended family all over the globe. When I compare the cost of college for my kids with my relatives with children in college in Norway, England or New Zealand it is appalling! We really are doing something wrong here. I think anyone would agree that an educated workforce in important for any countries' economy, and yet we haven't created a system that demonstrates this as a priority.

What made you want to pursue a career in education? How have budget cuts impacted your work?

I have always been a "teacher", from a young age I enjoyed "teaching" kids younger than myself. My first career was as a nurse (following in my mother's footsteps). Even as a nurse, I was a nurse educator. I think being a teacher is tapping into all of the things I am best at. That isn't to say about don't struggle, just that I enjoy any struggles.

For our program the financial burden isn't in true "cuts". We just haven't had many increases in state and federal funding for so long that our program operates "in the red". The impact of the lack of funding is evident in every programmatic decision right down to how much printer ink I am allotted.

Anton Krukowski

Anton Krukowski is a teacher at Lick-Wilmerding High School.

Why is education important to you?

I think much of education is about enhancing our sense of empathy. Having a deeper sense of ourselves, of others, and of the world around us allows us to live life more fully.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

I teach at an independent school, so as a teacher I have been protected from the insufficient funding of our public schools. I feel that my school is an example of what is possible with an appropriate level of funding per student - what every child should be able to experience. We have a healthy high school teaching load - with 16 - 20 students in most classes, and four classes per teacher. Students are able to get individual attention, get a wide range of options for elective courses, and our classrooms have all of the materials we might need. The tragedy is that not every student in California - or every teacher in California - gets to experience school in this way. For many years I have felt that one of the most important questions we should ask presidential candidates is what do they think is an appropriate level of funding per student to fully reach each and every student. We don't need to blindly throw money at education. We just need a student/teacher ratio across the country that allows every student to be known and loved, and to support and appreciate teachers like the professionals that we all are.

Inga Davis

Inga Davis is a teacher at San Carlos Charter Learning Center.

Why is education important to you?

Education provides the most important opportunity for students to learn to interact with the world outside of their family. It exposes them to a wide variety of people, adults, responsibilities and choices. It provides a safe place to learn to fail and recover and, most importantly, it allows young people to begin to see themselves as individuals and begin to gather passions, interests and ideas that will sustain them throughout life.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you?

I was in California's public schools from 1971 - 1984, with one year in a private school in the Netherlands, in 1978-9. I noticed a huge gap in educational opportunities when I returned to California in 1979. In particular my high school was bare bones. We didn't have a full time school librarian or school nurse and besides sports, there were few other extra curricular opportunities. My teachers were often talking about their lack of adequate compensation. I believe that not only myself, but many of my friends, lost opportunities to explore, art, music, and other important elements of education. There was no college counseling and I felt sympathy for all of the caring adults trying to take care of me and my friends with so few resources.

Now, as a public school educator I feel the lack of adequate resources even more acutely. My school is in a relatively wealthy neighborhood with a strong parent educational fund, but even with this financial support we struggle to make ends meet. To provide high quality education a school's greatest investment is in its teachers. Teachers need to be treated like professionals and many educators are willing to work long hours to find new ways to support their students. However, many talented young people are leaving the profession, since their salary does not even match the estimated low income minimum in the Bay Area of $105,000. Educators tend to be people who love community and families and yet most cannot afford to live in the communities where they teach or to even own a home and have children of their own. This impacts who is interested in teaching, turnover in schools, and the willingness of educators to continue to pour themselves into their work.

Our school is only able to offer music and art classes with volunteer support. Children thrive in environments that have multiple ways of learning and expression and California's unrealistic budgeting is harming another generation of young people. I have friends who teach in more impoverished communities and the situation is worse. We are failing this generation and in particular sustaining the long held tradition of marginalizing poorer communities with fewer opportunities to thrive.

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

My children feel worried about how much their education is costing us as a family and a wary of student debt. This is limiting where they are choosing to go to school.

What made you want to pursue a career in education? How have budget cuts impacted your work?

I love working with communities in a dynamic and thriving environment. Teaching gives me an opportunity to face new challenges every day and to need to always be learning - about my content, my students, and the world around me to make my instruction relevant. My colleagues are intelligent, passionate people who inspire me and my students to be our best. Hearing their constant worries about budgeting and how the struggle to make ends meet is disheartening.