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.