Valeria Ballesteros

Valeria 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 essential to development. I use this broad word—development— to encompass the development of the mind, the person, the well-being of the people, economic development, infrastructure, relations, connections. We have everything around us because of education. Without being taught how to read, write, think for oneself, critically analyze, and all the tools that education provides—development would not happen. Education enables people to develop ideas and make those ideas a reality. It provides the person with knowledge and a feeling of empowerment that go a long way. Look at everything around you—education made it happen.

How has California's lack of education funding negatively impacted you? 

I was fortunate enough to have parents who were able to send me to private school from an early age. But regardless, I did see how the lack of education funding affected my friends. While in community college, they struggled to find classes and graduate in two years because of the lack of resources, such as counselors, class availability and aid. By reforming Prop. 13, we can would restore billions to K-12 public education and community colleges!

How has the increasing cost of college impacted you?

The start of every school year is always nerve wrecking. I get a lot of anxiety and stress as I have to make numerous phone calls to the university to check on my financial aid status. Every year, my tuition increases, and every year I get nervous I won’t be able to afford it. College seems like a race now, I just want it to be over so I don’t have to deal with tuition, textbooks and school supplies, and housing expenses. I worry about how things are back home every day because my parents are spending money on me to receive a quality education.