Behind the “Happiest Place on Earth”
By Jennifer Santanero
I grew up in Anaheim, CA, a city that tourists believe is the "Happiest Place On Earth.” For locals like me this narrative couldn't be any more different. Growing up in a low-income, predominantly Hispanic community, I faced a lack of basic resources, one of which was one of the most important, my education. Attending public school from K-12, I experienced how underfunded education can severely impact one's life. Throughout elementary school, I saw these firsthand impacts, such as a lack of field trips, arts programs, nurses, and even teachers. The chronic understaffing at my school led to a variety of issues, like my school nurse being my lunch lady once it hit noon, and my 6th-grade class being blended with a 5th-grade class. Although this seemed like an idea that would mitigate the ongoing staffing issues, it created a bigger issue for students, as it led to us receiving less attention and help on topics due to the new self-taught system.
These issues did not stop after elementary; they impacted me more throughout my time in High School. Unlike most schools in my district, my school was large, with over 3,000 students. Yet despite the size and the needs of the student body, we did not receive more resources. While I attended high school, we had only 6 AP courses offered, and 1 counselor per academic class. Yet, due to our “at-risk” status because of high gang violence presence, counselors would only see you if you were a student who caused behavioral problems. Students were left without support, and counselors were stretched thin. This impacted me the most at the peak of college application season. As a first-generation student, access to counselors was the most beneficial to me as they could provide me with direction and encouragement, so with the lack of counselors, I was left oblivious. As my education journey continued, I was increasingly aware of the opportunities others had, making me feel behind and afraid of not overcoming my academic dreams. This is why funding for public schools should be a priority and a right that all children should have access to!