Candidate for
Board Member; Santa Barbara High School District

I am a first generation American. My family saw education as the path to success and the American dream. My parents always nurtured my love of learning and spurred me to make the most of my opportunities. Through hard work and their support I was able to excel and live up to that dream. After completing three year at Dos Pueblos High school I continued, as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and with an offer to join the honors program, to UCSB where I am currently pursuing a degree in philosophy.

My involvement in politics began in high school. There I served as president of a group whose goal was to increase young people's involvement in local politics. As head of this group I worked with various grass-roots community organizations on local and national issues, such as the living wage and independent media. From this experience I realized the importance of diversity in the political process. I also realized how important it is for the younger generation to step up and play a bigger role in shaping our society. I would be the first to admit that the youth are apathetic and ill informed about what is going on in their community and the world. And that is precisely why I am so committed to education.

If our students are to step up and take on the challenges of tomorrow they must receive the best possible education that we can give them today. Education is the gift of opportunity, the opportunity to change the world as well as the opportunity to succeed. I want to ensure that everyone has the chance that I, as a first generation American, had. We are living in a rapidly changing world. As a youth I have something unique to contribute, a unique perspective and understanding. I look forward to supporting my community through my service to students, parents, teachers, and the community on the school board.