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.