My name is Elise Almeda. I am a first-generation Filipino American. Both my mom and dad are from the Philippines. They moved here in their 30s, and I’m one of two siblings. My brother is in eighth grade, and I’m a student at Jackson High School as well as Cascadia Community College. I’m working on my AA while finishing high school. I hope to pursue a career in international affairs or diplomacy, and possibly minor in business. That’s not completely certain yet, but it’s the direction I’m going in.
I have quite a few hobbies. I play sports, though not through my school. I do archery and martial arts, and I like to stay busy—studying, training, and spending time with friends. I’m currently a junior in high school and in my first year of Running Start.
To be completely honest, my mom was a big influence in my decision to join Running Start. She’s a college professor at Cascadia, so she started talking to me about it early on—around my freshman year. She was very persistent about the benefits and how it could help not only my education but also our family financially.
For me, higher education is about more than just grades or assignments—it’s about expanding your mind and learning about the world. It’s about learning how to think, write, and see things through a broader lens. It’s also deeply personal because in the Philippines, higher education isn’t easily accessible, especially for young women. I feel really grateful to have the opportunity to pursue it, and that’s part of why it’s so important to me.
I don’t think higher education is affordable in Washington. Maybe for some families in the Seattle area, especially those working in tech, it might be. But for most people—it’s still out of reach. That makes those opportunities really hard to access. It’s one of the reasons Running Start made sense for me and my family.
If the first two years of college were free, I think it would give students a chance to explore and figure out what they want to do without the financial pressure. In high school, there’s so much uncertainty about what path to take. Running Start has helped me get a feel for college-level work and learn more about potential careers. Free college would give everyone that chance—to test things out, to grow, and to make informed choices.
I’ve seen some of my peers struggle with basic needs like food and finances. I know Cascadia offers programs for support, including financial aid and some other wraparound services, though I’m not sure of all the details. Expanding these supports would make a huge difference. It would give students space to focus on their studies instead of constantly worrying about whether they’ll have food to eat, a place to sleep, or a way to get to class. Meeting basic needs allows students to focus on higher education itself, not just survival.