I’ve always wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. I love working with children, and I believe teachers are some of the most important people in society because they shape the youngest and most impressionable minds. I know I could be a good fit for that role. It’s my passion.
But pursuing that passion hasn’t been easy. After graduating high school, I took a gap year—not because I wanted a break, but because I couldn’t afford to go to college. Now, as a second-year student at Tacoma Community College, I am working toward my associate’s degree in education so I can transfer to a university and complete my bachelor’s.
Even with grants and financial aid, I pay $800–$900 out of pocket every quarter. To cover that, along with medical bills, phone bills, and daily living expenses, I work full-time or overtime while in school. That leaves me mentally drained and worried about my grades. It’s hard to be a good student when you’re stretched so thin just trying to survive. Looking ahead, I worry even more: if community college is already this expensive, how will I ever afford university tuition without going tens of thousands of dollars into debt—just to become a teacher?
Free community and technical college would make a huge difference. Instead of living paycheck to paycheck, I could save for my transfer to university and focus more on my studies. It would allow me to live more than just survive. And it would encourage more students like me to pursue careers we desperately need—teachers, doctors, and other professionals—without being held back by impossible financial barriers.
Washington can make that possible by investing in free college and strengthening the support services that already exist, like free bus passes and advising. Students like me are ready to step up and serve our communities—we just need the chance to get there.