RA #2

Title: From Fly-Girls to Bitches and Hoes
Author: Joan Morgan
Date: 1995
Topic: The ways rap influences young black men and women.
Exigence: The mistreatment of black women by black men.
Intended audience: Black women, feminists, hip hop listeners, black and hip hop communities as a whole.
Purpose: To discover and analyze the true meaning behind the lyrics and confronting and understand the problems.
Claims: If a community, specifically a black community, had a safe place for troubled black men to express themselves there would be a significant decrease in violence and homicides.

Main evidence: She shows how the lyrics have more meaning then what they seem. She uses the two most well known rappers that were murdered, analyzes their songs and concludes they were not angry at women, they felt regret, guilt and depression from other issues in their lives. She also brings up a great point when it comes to females being stereotyped as bitches and hoes; we allow it to happen by being in their music videos half naked. She wants to find the true reasons for the misplaced anger and come up with solutions to the problems.

Pathos: She uses pathos as being a black woman who has lost two of her friends whom were black as well, to homicide by black males.
Effect: the reader will be able to understand that she has personally experienced the issues she writes about instead of just doing research.

Logos: She uses logos by stating the fact that leading cause of death among black men ages 15 to 24 is homicide, usually by other black men.
Effect: it makes the reader think that all the black men that are murdered have died by other black men which somewhat creates a fear and bad image for ALL young black males.

Ethos: She is a black feminist, musician and writer.
Effect: the reader learns she has credibility as well as personal experience specifically with hip hop, African Americans, women and with writing.

My response:
I believe she is right, we, America as a whole need to find a solution for the anger to prevent the violence. The lyrics, specifically degrading women aren't because the men are mad at us, they are full of negative emotions that they take out on us and we make it easy by being in their music videos dressed like hoes. But what if we are wrong? What if black males are going to continue the violence despite creating a loving environment they could express themselves? All of our time and effort would be waisted. Although I am not black, I am a woman that listens to hip hop constantly and I understand the lyrics have a deeper meaning. The majority of victims have previously or presently acted in dangerous behaviors that lead to them becoming victims. I have personally lost several friends due to either car accidents, fires or suicide but I don't think the majority of drivers are killers or that most fires will kill someone. I think the song Changes by Tupac is a perfect example of a young black man wanting more love and respect from everyone else.

Reader response Kilbourne

Reader response number 2 

          Two ways a woman can get hurt: advertising and violence, is a story written by Jean Kilbourne that describes how advertising can lead to violence against women. She shows pictures of ads and explains in detail how the ads dehumanize and objectify women and compares the pictures to pornography. "Pornography is more dangerously mainstream when its glorification of rape and violence shows up in mass media" (577). Kilbourne explains the harsh realities of the women who are victims of sexual harassment and some of their actions after being hurt.

          According to Kilbourne it is dangerous to depict women and men as sex objects because once a human is turned into an object it justifies violence against that person. She believes the objectification of women is more troubling than men because there is very little risk for men where as women are always at risk. "When men objectify women, they do so in a cultural context in which women are constantly objectified and in which there are consequences-from economic discrimination to violence" (588).

           Regardless of the situation women are held more responsible for being sexual assaulted than men. A young girl accused William Kennedy Smith of raping her, a jury of mostly women acquitted Smith and used the fact the young women was wearing victories secret panties, against her. The court would not allow Smiths history of violence against women in the trial. In 1990 a male Canadian judge accused a 13 year old girl of being sexually aggressive and suspended the sentence of her molester who was free to return to his job of babysitter.

            Between one third and three quarters of all sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, victim or both and over half of rapes on college campus involve alcohol. Kilbourne quotes a Jose Cuervo ad, "The night began with a bottle of Cuervo and ended with a vow of silence" implying date rape.

             Kilbourne states, "Women are especially cruel judges of other women's sexual behavior, mostly because we are so desperate to believe that we are in control of what happens to us and it is reassuring to believe that we can avoid it by being good girls, avoiding dark places, staying out of bars and dressing innocently". Sadly I have to agree with that, I like to think that I have control over what happens to me and that if a guy tried to hurt me I would be able to fight him off. I sometimes forget that I'm only 5 feet tall and 105 pounds, generally guys are much bigger and stronger than me and they are the ones that actually have control. I had to learn that lesson a few different times the hard way because I didn't want to accept the fact that I don't have control.

             According to the former surgeon general, "battery is the single greatest cause of injury to women in America, more common than automobile accidents, muggings, and stranger rapes combined." And a 1998 study by the federal government says one in five women have been the victim of rape or attempted rape, most before their 17th birthday.

               Victims of sexual assaults have a very hard time living through the attack and after as well. Girls who are sexually abused are set up for addictions and self destructive behavior. A shocking report about a 5th grade boy describes, him repeatedly touching another students breasts and genitals while saying, "I want to get in bed with you" and “I want to feel your boobs". The young girl told the authorities but they did nothing until her parents found she had written a suicide note and decided to take the board of education to court.

               I have to agree with Kilbourne on all of her points written in the story. I think advertising does have a subconscious effect of people and their reactions to violence against women. Some of her examples are just disgusting and shocking today the least. 

                I have always been a strong woman, I wouldn't let anyone tell me I can't do something, they just gave me a reason to try harder to succeed. I remember being young in elementary and middle school, the teachers giving speeches about girls being safe and the realities of what can happen, burin ever believed it could happen to me so I didn't care. I was 13 years old and my best friend had an older brother who was 22. I thought he was the coolest thing; he could drink, had tattoos, piercings and drove a motorcycle. One night I decided I wanted him to think I was cool too so I suggested we all get drunk, I had never drunken much alcohol at that point in my life but I wanted to be cool. He took my virginity that night. I didn't tell anyone at first because I couldn't tell in my heart, if I wanted it or if it was just the alcohol or if it would make me seem cool.

 

When I was 15 I had a very close friend to me, sexually assault me. I didn't tell anyone because I couldn't believe it happened again and by someone so close to me. I told him everything and he had always been there for me. Many months went by then I told my councilor, I surprisingly felt better like I got it out of me. I then told other close friends and after months of feeling worthless I felt I empowered. Like I wasn't going to let him change my life or who I was, he wasn't going to have the satisfaction of knowing how much he hurt me.

 

After both assaults happened to me I became angry but more hurt and depressed. I even tried killing myself multiple times and I was addicted to cutting myself and I also became anorexic. I didn't have control over what happened to me and I couldn't control the emotions I felt inside so I turned to harming myself. Food was something I could control, I had control over how much I ate and how much I didn't eat and cutting made me feel like I was literally getting the pain out of me. I know how contradictory that sounds but it’s how I felt with everything going on in my life at that point. I haven't cut myself in over three years and I have been maintaining a healthy weight. Kilbourne made very good points and I have experienced some, first hand so I have to agree with her. I would like to say I'm sorry if my story offended any readers. I am no longer ashamed of my past and the things I've done or the things that have happened to me. I am an open book, if the statistics are correct; I’m not the only girl in our English class to experience rape. I hope my story can bring someone just one person strength because I've been through it all and I made it out just fine. No woman should ever allow anyone, especially a man to take away her smile.

 

Final Polished prop 30 essay

Sara Estrada

October 14, 2012

English 2

The Students are the Future of California

The future of California relies on the present and future students; the voters in California have the choice to determine what our state’s future entails. Governor Jerry Brown states, “Failure to pass this tax measure in November will result in devastating cuts to the state’s education system that will mean we don’t have a future.” Proposition 30 was created to fund education and stop the cut backs on schools, tuition hikes, layoffs and downsizing class size and guarantee local public safety funds. Based on California Franchise Tax Board data for 2009, the additional income tax would be imposed on the top 3% of California taxpayers. Because Prop. 30 works within the framework of the state budget to pay down the debt, Prop. 30 is the only initiative that helps balance the budget and prevents more devastating cuts to services for seniors, working families and small businesses. The very highest earners will pay more for seven years. The sales tax provision will be in effect for four years. Under Prop. 30, money raised for schools is directed into a special fund for public schools that the legislature can’t touch. Annual audits will insure Prop. 30 funds raised for schools are only spent on schools. No money can be used for administration. According to the California Faculty Association, if Prop. 30 doesn’t pass, schools K-12 get cut $5.5 billion which will eliminate three weeks of school and CSU’s get cut an additional $250 million, after a $750 million dollar cut, which will increase tuition tremendously.

If Prop. 30 is passed, it will increase personal income tax on annual earnings over $250,000 for seven years as well as sales and use tax by ¼ cent for four years. It allocates temporary tax revenues 89% to K–12 schools and 11% to community colleges. It also bars use of funds for administrative costs, but provides local school governing board’s discretion to decide, in open meetings and subject to annual audit, how funds are to be spent. Additionally it guarantees funding for public safety services realigned from state to local governments. According to the California Legislative Analyst's Office and the Director of Finance, it will bring in additional state tax revenues of about $6 billion a year.

The main point the “no on Prop. 30” express is that the government keeps spending money they don’t have, putting us more in debt and that they are concerned that the tax funds will not reach the classrooms. Although I do agree the government does spend more money than they have, I don’t believe Prop. 30 has anything to do with it. Prop. 30 is specifically for schools and local public safety, not the government to pay for more expensive, unnecessary things. The concerns regarding the funds reaching the classrooms is a reasonable concern but they have to realize classrooms need students, teachers and appropriate materials for learning. If the schools cut back classes and raise tuition, there will be less and less students and teachers to fill the classrooms. According to The University of California, under the terms of the 2012-13 state budget, failure of Proposition 30 would cost the University of California an additional $375 million: an immediate trigger cut of $250 million, plus the loss of another $125 million in funding promised in 2013-14 to pay for this year’s freeze of mandatory system wide student charges.

I am currently a full time student attending Cabrillo Community College. I go to school every day and when I am not in class I am doing homework or studying. I barely have enough time every day to eat, therefore I don’t have time for a job and am currently unemployed. There is the option of taking one or two classes to be able to have a job but I feel my education is more important at this time in my life. As of August 2012, the unemployment rate in California was 10.8% whereas the national unemployment rate was only 8.6%, as indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Being a college student I am not qualified to do most jobs. Any good job requires at least a college degree.

I attended public school from kindergarten to my freshman year and there were very few teachers that actually cared what the students did and learned. In high school a yard supervisor caught a group of eight students skipping class to smoke marijuana on school campus and the only thing he did was put his clip board up and said, “They don’t pay me enough to see this”. It didn’t matter what the students did in class either; there were teachers that would fail students but they wouldn’t help them understand the material to prevent students from failing. I hated public school because the teachers didn’t care and they weren’t willing to help. All I wanted to do was drop out. I remember telling everyone once I turned 15 I wasn’t going back to school.

Eventually I started at a private school with great teachers that helped each student in every subject. They taught me that I could learn because I was smart and I could actually graduate high school. I went from fighting school to wanting to go to learn. I received many awards during my graduation ceremony along with my diploma.

Once I figured out I could achieve success, graduate and receive my high school diploma, I decided I was going to go to college and graduate there also. I remember my first day at Cabrillo College; it was my 19^th birthday, August 29^th, 2011, I was nervous at first; I thought it would be just like public high school only bigger but I was completely wrong. It was great. I really liked the freedom and huge, open campus, but when I went to my first class there was at least 15 people on the wait list and the room was filled with students sitting at desks as well as on the ground and standing in the back. That really surprised me. I thought, “This place is huge. Why can’t all these students get into classes?” There are those who don’t sign up on time but the fact that the classes are getting fewer and fewer and the costs are getting more and more expensive aren’t helping the students of California. Cabrillo’s response to the 2012 system-wide budget survey states that in the past two years course offerings at Cabrillo College have decreased by almost 10%.

People in society need to be educated, especially those that truly want to be. The amount of money a student or student’s family has or doesn’t have shouldn’t determine the education they will or will not receive. If Proposition 30 passes, it will allow those students to go to school and achieve success by earning their college degrees.

We, the students, ask those who are more fortunate and wealthy to help us out. Think about the future of California; if people can’t afford school or receive a proper education, what will happen to our state? We are the future of California. A lot of us are young and haven’t had to make many important life choices and don’t know as much as people that have been around longer but we need to be educated in all aspects of life and we are asking those who are fortunate and financially able, to help provide us with an education to succeed in life.

Although I haven’t decided what I want to do with my life, career or what my major is, I have decided that no matter what I am going to graduate. I truly feel that the people attending community college want to be there. K-12 students are forced to be there. No one makes students go to college and attend classes, and students pay to be there to further their education. A lot of students can barely afford to stay in school but they want to graduate college in order to better themselves and have better job opportunities.

As I stated before I am a college student attending community college and I have seen the cutbacks on class sizes and the increase of fees due to limited funding over the past two years. I believe that if Proposition 30 passes, it will allow for more students to attend college. Over the last few years Cabrillo College has had to cut 400 classes and 47 full time staff jobs have been eliminated. Something needs to change so students can receive an education and staff can keep their jobs.

If Proposition 30 passes, it will allow more students to attend college and the K-12 schools will have enough resources to educate and prepare students for college. The people that have made a lot of money tend to spend it on unnecessary things. I don’t think they really need statues in their houses or cars that cost upwards of $800,000. Those things are all very nice but I think if they give back to society by helping education, it would be much more rewarding in the long run. Material things won’t last forever but an education and opportunities will.

No one likes paying taxes but this tax initiative only affects 3% of Californians by the income tax increase and it effects all of California by the quarter of a cent sales tax, less than one penny per dollar, to help provide funds for educating the future of California. If we, the students, aren’t properly educated what will happen to our beautiful Golden State? Jerry Brown said, “The California Dream was built on a system of public schools and colleges that gave every Californian access to the education needed to get ahead.” We need help, both students and teachers, so reflect on those ridiculously expensive materialistic things and think about if they are more important than educating the future of California.

Works cited:

"California Economy at a Glance." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.ca.htm>.

Brown, Jerry. "Newspapers throughout the State Agree - Yes on Prop 30." YES on 30. Yes on 30, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.yesonprop30.com/>.

"Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers AFT Local 4400." Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers. CCFT, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://ccftcabrillo.org/>.

Schwab, David. "Brown: Proposition 30 Failure Would Result in Devastating Cuts to Education." Swrnn.com. City News Service, 21 Aug. 2012. Web. 09 Sept. 2012.

California. State Legislature. Attorney General. TEMPORARY TAXES TO FUND EDUCATION. GUARANTEED LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. By Kamala Harris. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Sos.ca.gov. Web. 12 Sept. 2012.

Prop 30 Final Draft

Sara Estrada

October 14, 2012

English 2

The Students are the Future of California

The future of California relies on the present and future students; the voters in California have the choice to determine what our state’s future entails. Governor Jerry Brown states, “Failure to pass this tax measure in November will result in devastating cuts to the state’s education system that will mean we don’t have a future.” Proposition 30 was created to fund education and stop the cut backs on schools, tuition hikes, layoffs and downsizing class size and guarantee local public safety funds. Based on California Franchise Tax Board data for 2009, the additional income tax would be imposed on the top 3% of California taxpayers. Because Prop. 30 works within the framework of the state budget to pay down the debt, Prop. 30 is the only initiative that helps balance the budget and prevents more devastating cuts to services for seniors, working families and small businesses. The very highest earners will pay more for seven years. The sales tax provision will be in effect for four years. Under Prop. 30, money raised for schools is directed into a special fund for public schools that the legislature can’t touch. Annual audits will insure Prop. 30 funds raised for schools are only spent on schools. No money can be used for administration. According to the California Faculty Association, if Prop. 30 doesn’t pass, schools K-12 get cut $5.5 billion which will eliminate three weeks of school and CSU’s get cut an additional $250 million, after a $750 million dollar cut, which will increase tuition tremendously.

If Prop. 30 is passed, it will increase personal income tax on annual earnings over $250,000 for seven years as well as sales and use tax by ¼ cent for four years. It allocates temporary tax revenues 89% to K–12 schools and 11% to community colleges. It also bars use of funds for administrative costs, but provides local school governing board’s discretion to decide, in open meetings and subject to annual audit, how funds are to be spent. Additionally it guarantees funding for public safety services realigned from state to local governments. According to the California Legislative Analyst's Office and the Director of Finance, it will bring in additional state tax revenues of about $6 billion a year.

The main point the “no on Prop. 30” express is that the government keeps spending money they don’t have putting us more in debt and that they are concerned that the tax funds will not reach the classrooms. Although I do agree the government does spend more money than they have, I don’t believe Prop. 30 has anything to do with it. Prop. 30 is specifically for schools and local public safety, not the government to pay for more expensive, unnecessary things. The concerns regarding the funds reaching the classrooms is a reasonable concern but they have to realize classrooms need students, teachers and appropriate materials for learning. If the schools cut back classes and raise tuition, there will be less and less students and teachers to fill the classrooms. According to The University of California, under the terms of the 2012-13 state budget, failure of Proposition 30 would cost the University of California an additional $375 million: an immediate trigger cut of $250 million, plus the loss of another $125 million in funding promised in 2013-14 to pay for this year’s freeze of mandatory system wide student charges.

I am currently a full time student attending Cabrillo Community College. I go to school every day and when I am not in class I am doing homework or studying. I barely have enough time every day to eat, therefore I don’t have time for a job and am currently unemployed. There is the option of taking one or two classes to be able to have a job but I feel my education is more important at this time in my life. As of August 2012, the unemployment rate in California was 10.8% whereas the national unemployment rate was only 8.6%, as indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Being a college student I am not qualified to do most jobs. Any good job requires at least a college degree.

 I attended public school from kindergarten to my freshman year and there were very few teachers that actually cared what the students did and learned. In high school a yard supervisor caught a group of eight students skipping class to smoke marijuana on school campus and the only thing he did was put his clip board up and said, “They don’t pay me enough to see this”. It didn’t matter what the students did in class either; there were teachers that would fail students but they wouldn’t help them understand the material to prevent students from failing. I hated public school because the teachers didn’t care and they weren’t willing to help. All I wanted to do was drop out. I remember telling everyone once I turned 15 I wasn’t going back to school.

 Eventually I started at a private school with great teachers that helped each student in every subject. They taught me that I could learn because I was smart and I could actually graduate high school. I went from fighting school to wanting to go to learn. I received many awards during my graduation ceremony along with my diploma.

Once I figured out I could achieve success, graduate and receive my high school diploma, I decided I was going to go to college and graduate there also. I remember my first day at Cabrillo College; it was my 19^th birthday, August 29^th, 2011, I was nervous at first; I thought it would be just like public high school only bigger but I was completely wrong. It was great. I really liked the freedom and huge, open campus, but when I went to my first class there was at least 15 people on the wait list and the room was filled with students sitting at desks as well as on the ground and standing in the back. That really surprised me. I thought, “This place is huge. Why can’t all these students get into classes?” There are those who don’t sign up on time but the fact that the classes are getting fewer and fewer and the costs are getting more and more expensive aren’t helping the students of California. Cabrillo’s response to the 2012 system-wide budget survey states that in the past two years course offerings at Cabrillo College have decreased by almost 10%.

 People in society need to be educated, especially those that truly want to be. The amount of money a student or student’s family has or doesn’t have shouldn’t determine the education they will or will not receive. If Proposition 30 passes, it will allow those students to go to school and achieve success by earning their college degrees.

 We, the students, ask those who are more fortunate and wealthy to help us out. Think about the future of California; if people can’t afford school or receive a proper education, what will happen to our state? We are the future of California. A lot of us are young and haven’t had to make many important life choices and don’t know as much as people that have been around longer but we need to be educated in all aspects of life and we are asking those who are fortunate and financially able, to help provide us with an education to succeed in life.

 Although I haven’t decided what I want to do with my life, career or what my major is, I have decided that no matter what I am going to graduate. I truly feel that the people attending community college want to be there. K-12 students are forced to be there. No one makes students go to college and attend classes, and students pay to be there to further their education. A lot of students can barely afford to stay in school but they want to graduate college in order to better themselves and have better job opportunities.

 As I stated before I am a college student attending community college and I have seen the cutbacks on class sizes and the increase of fees due to limited funding over the past two years. I believe that if Proposition 30 passes, it will allow for more students to attend college. Over the last few years Cabrillo College has had to cut 400 classes and 47 full time staff jobs have been eliminated. Something needs to change so students can receive an education and staff can keep their jobs.

If Proposition 30 passes, it will allow more students to attend college and the K-12 schools will have enough resources to educate and prepare students for college. The people that have made a lot of money tend to spend it on unnecessary things. I don’t think they really need statues in their houses or cars that cost upwards of $800,000. Those things are all very nice but I think if they give back to society by helping education, it would be much more rewarding in the long run. Material things won’t last forever but an education and opportunities will.

No one likes paying taxes but this tax initiative only affects 3% of Californians by the income tax increase and it effects all of California by the quarter of a cent sales tax, less than one penny per dollar, to help provide funds for educating the future of California. If we, the students, aren’t properly educated what will happen to our beautiful Golden State? Jerry Brown said, “The California Dream was built on a system of public schools and colleges that gave every Californian access to the education needed to get ahead.” We need help, both students and teachers, so reflect on those ridiculously expensive materialistic things and think about if they are more important than educating the future of California.

Works cited:

"California Economy at a Glance." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.ca.htm>.

Brown, Jerry. "Newspapers throughout the State Agree - Yes on Prop 30." YES on 30. Yes on 30, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.yesonprop30.com/>.

"Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers AFT Local 4400." Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers. CCFT, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://ccftcabrillo.org/>.

Schwab, David. "Brown: Proposition 30 Failure Would Result in Devastating Cuts to Education." Swrnn.com. City News Service, 21 Aug. 2012. Web. 09 Sept. 2012.

California. State Legislature. Attorney General. TEMPORARY TAXES TO FUND EDUCATION. GUARANTEED LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. By Kamala Harris. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Sos.ca.gov. Web. 12 Sept. 2012.

Rough Draft Essay #1

Sara Estrada

October 7, 2012

English 2

The Students are the Future of California

Proposition 30 was created to fund education and stop the cut backs on schools, tuition hikes, layoffs and downsizing class size and guarantee local public safety funds.

Based on California Franchise Tax Board data for 2009, the additional income tax is imposed on the top 3% of California taxpayers. Because Prop. 30 works within the framework of the state budget to pay down the debt Prop. 30 is the only initiative that helps balance the budget and prevents more devastating cuts to services for seniors, working families and small businesses. The very highest earners will pay more for seven years. The sales tax provision will be in effect for four years. Under Prop. 30, money raised for schools is directed into a special fund for public schools that the legislature can’t touch. Annual audits will insure Prop. 30 funds raised for schools are only spent on schools. No money can be used for administration. If Prop. 30 doesn’t pass, schools K-12 get cut $5.5 billion which will eliminate three weeks of school and CSU’s get cut $250 million which will increase tuition tremendously.

If Prop. 30 is passed, it will increase personal income tax on annual earnings over $250,000 for seven years as well as sales and use tax by ¼ cent for four years. It allocates temporary tax revenues 89% to K–12 schools and 11% to community colleges. It also bars use of funds for administrative costs, but provides local school governing board’s discretion to decide, in open meetings and subject to annual audit, how funds are to be spent. Additionally it guarantees funding for public safety services realigned from state to local governments. It will bring in additional state tax revenues of about $6 billion a year.

The main point the “no on Prop. 30” express is that the government keeps spending money they don’t have putting us more in debt and that they are concerned that the tax funds will not reach the classrooms. Although I do agree the government does spend more money than they have, I don’t believe Prop. 30 has anything to do with it. Prop. 30 is specifically for schools and local public safety, not the government to pay for more expensive, unnecessary things. The concerns regarding the funds reaching the classrooms is a reasonable concern but they have to realize classrooms need students, teachers and appropriate materials for learning. If the schools cut back classes and raise tuition, there will be less and less students and teachers to fill the classrooms.

I am currently a full time student attending Cabrillo Community College. I go to school every day and when I am not in class I am doing homework or studying. I barely have enough time every day to eat, therefore I don’t have time for a job and am currently unemployed. There is the option of taking one or two classes to be able to have a job but I feel my education is more important at this time in my life. As of August 2012, the unemployment rate in California was 10.8% whereas the national unemployment rate was only 8.6%. Being a college student I am not qualified to do most jobs. Any good job requires at least a college degree.

 I attended public school from kindergarten to my freshman year and there were very few teachers that actually cared what the students did and learned. In high school a yard supervisor caught a group of eight students skipping class to smoke marijuana on school campus and the only thing he did was put his clip board up and said, “They don’t pay me enough to see this”. It didn’t matter what the students did in class either; there were teachers that would fail students but they wouldn’t help them understand the material to prevent students from failing. I hated public school because the teachers didn’t care and they weren’t willing to help. All I wanted to do was drop out. I remember telling everyone once I turned 15 I wasn’t going back to school.

 Eventually I started at a private school with great teachers that helped each student in every subject. They taught me that I could learn because I was smart and I could actually graduate high school. I went from fighting school to wanting to go to learn. I received many awards during my graduation ceremony along with my diploma.

Once I figured out I could achieve success, graduate and receive my high school diploma, I decided I was going to go to college and graduate there also. I remember my first day at Cabrillo College; it was my 19^th birthday, August 29^th, 2011, I was nervous at first; I thought it would be just like public high school only bigger but I was completely wrong. It was great. I really liked the freedom and huge, open campus, but when I went to my first class there was at least 15 people on the wait list and the room was filled with students sitting at desks as well as on the ground and standing in the back. That really surprised me. I thought, “This place is huge. Why can’t all these students get into classes?” There are those who don’t sign up on time but the fact that the classes are getting fewer and fewer and the costs are getting more and more expensive aren't helping the students of California.

 People in society need to be educated, especially those that truly want to be. The amount of money a student or student’s family has or doesn't have shouldn't determine the education they will receive or not receive. If Proposition 30 passes, it will allow those students to go to school and achieve success and earn their college degrees.

 We, the students, ask those who are more fortunate and wealthy to help us out. Think about the future of California; if people can’t afford school or receive a proper education, what will happen to our state? We are the future of California. A lot of us are young and haven’t had to make many important life choices and don’t know as much as people that have been around longer but we need to be educated in all aspects of life and we are asking those who are fortunate and financially able, to help provide us with an education to succeed in life.

 Although I haven’t decided what I want to do with my life, career or what my major is, I have decided that no matter what I am going to graduate. I truly feel that the people attending community college want to be there. K-12 students are forced to be there. No one makes students go to college and attend classes, and students pay to be there to further their education. A lot of students can barely afford to stay in school but they want to graduate college in order to better themselves and have better job opportunities.

 As I stated before I am a college student attending community college and I have seen the cutbacks on class sizes and the increase of fees due to limited funding over the past two years. I believe that if Proposition 30 passes, it will allow for more students to attend college. Over the last few years Cabrillo College has had to cut 400 classes and 47 full time staff jobs have been eliminated. Something needs to change so students can receive an education and staff can keep their jobs.

If Proposition 30 passes, it will allow more students to attend college and the K-12 schools will have enough resources to educate and prepare students for college. The people that have made a lot of money tend to spend it on unnecessary things. I don’t think they really need statues in their houses or cars that cost upwards of $800,000. Those things are all very nice but I think if they could help us to be educated; it is much more rewarding in the long run. Material things won’t last forever but an education and opportunities will.

No one likes paying taxes but this tax initiative only affects 3% of Californians by the income tax increase and all of California by the quarter of a cent sales tax, less than one penny per dollar, to help provide funds for educating the future of California. If we, the students, aren't properly educated what will happen to our beautiful golden state? We need help, both students and teachers, so reflect on those ridiculously expensive materialistic things and think about if they are more important than educating the future of America.