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.