Equality is a term largely thrown around in political discourse. However, it is an ideal that is largely out of reach, particularly within the United States’ education system. Attending public school through 12th grade in underserved areas of my city allowed me to see educational inequity firsthand. From being required to purchase my own textbooks to tutoring ESL students at my high school, I became conscious of how access to educational materials determines one’s school success.

“My education journey allowed me to see how educational inequality contributes to social and income inequality, thus creating a poverty cycle.”

The United States has allowed schools to have an unequal distribution of academic resources for far too long. Although I consider myself privileged when it comes to my history with public education, I personally saw the struggle among my classmates. Some of my classmates did not have internet at home to complete research for class, the majority were on free and reduced lunch, and some were even homeless.

Although my high school offered the International Baccalaureate program, only 21/420 students in my senior class were enrolled in the program. Younger grades have had fewer and fewer students enrolled in the program, and the district is struggling to continue funding it. When senior year came around and I began to study for my exams, I had to purchase my own IB textbook if I wanted to study at home. Although classes were free, exams cost close to $1000. A free, advanced, international education is right in front of students’ faces but they cannot afford to participate in it.