The California Reality

By Dani Plascencia

  As a non-traditional student, navigating the American education system felt as if I was being set up to fail. I grew up attending California public schools and one thing's for sure, we lacked funding. This impacted me as a younger child as I experienced big classroom sizes, a lack of bilingual staff/resources, and a lack of learning supplies. I saw my teachers every year using personal money to provide for their classes. Meanwhile, we were expected to use textbooks with missing pages and bathroom stalls that wouldn’t lock. This impacted the manner in which I showed up to classes. I didn’t feel supported in my education journey as educators were under pressure to make ends meet. I experienced seeing my teachers going on strike every year as our board continued to cut funding for essential programs and lower wages for teachers. This is an ongoing reality for many other low-income students in public education. 

    Lack of funding for K-12 education has consequences for a student’s engagement with higher education. When met with supportive staff, engaged counselors, and a welcoming environment, students are more able to attend college after high school. My negative experience with K-12 public education is what led me to believe I was undeserving of a higher education. Thanks to one high school counselor who used her own resources, she motivated me to enroll into community college after high school. Being a first-generation, formerly undocumented student this positive experience is what drives me to advocate for fully funding education and needs of other marginalized communities. For us to reach an equitable future we must pressure our state to see funding education as a starting point.