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.