SMAS Student Olena Babych's Letter to Asm Mullin about Adult Education

With the COVID pandemic, we have many challenges - including economic problems. The Legislature and the Governor must agree on a new budget for our new situation. This is the time when we need to tell them what we need and want in the new budget.

San Mateo Adult School Student Shelley Olena Babych shares her letter on this topic to Assembly Member Mullin:

To Honorable Kevin Mullin

RE: Funding for Adult Education

Dear Assemblymember Kevin Mullin,

 I am Olena Babych, from Ukraine, I am a student and Vice President at San Mateo Adult School who lives in your district. 

Olena Babych

When I came to the USA I could barely understand people and did not know anything about local culture. After less than one year of studying, I can communicate with people. The Adult School has given me not just speaking and writing skills, but also, the amazing teachers have given me knowledge about life in the US and helped me to adapt to a new life here. In Ukraine, I worked as a psychologist, and communication skills are necessary for my job. Now, I continue studying to have the possibility to find a job here and serve people.

With all due respect, I am writing this letter to you to thank you for your job. I understand this a difficult time for the state, and I am concerned about cutting the budget for Adult Education. As a volunteer who helped the teacher with very beginning students, I can see how important Adult School is for people who came to the country and do not know English to adapt and find a job.  

Our school has tried to do the best for the community - our students participate in such important events as a beach cleaning, fundraising for fire victims, and more.

Adult Education needs stable money in the new budget. With this money, we can learn more and help our community. 

Thank you for your support of our school and Adult Education.  

Sincerely,

Olena Babych

SMAS Student Edy Vasquez' Letter To Governor Newsom

Edy Vasquez

Edy Vasquez is a student at San Mateo Adult School. He is a pre-GED student now. He was in the ESL program. You can read more of his story here.

With the COVID pandemic, we have some economy problems. If we want to keep strong Adult Education, we must tell Governor Newsom and our legislators why Adult School is important.

Here is some information to help you write your own letter.

Read Edy's letter to Governor Newsom:

Governor Gavin Newsom

1303 10th St., #1173

Sacramento, CA. 95814

April 23, 2020

Dear Governor Gavin Newsom,

I am Edy Vasquez,  from Guatemala. I’m  a student at  San Mateo Adult School in
California, United States of America.  

With all due respect, I am writing this letter to you. thanking you for the
effort made in the state of California, keeping everyone safe from COVID 19,
looking after our health and coming to town.  This was an excellent job done
as a governor.  From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for everything.  '

The reason for this letter is because I understand there may be possible budget
cutting for some public institutions and agencies. To continue to function properly,
we need balanced budgets. 

For this reason I took the liberty of writing this letter and to concentrate on adult
education in our county. I attend San Mateo Adult School. Education is very
important for both children and adults. By educating ourselves, we can better
serve the State of California and provide a better economy by producing work.  

On the other hand, if our school continues to be funded, teachers will not be
unemployed, they will be able to contribute to the state that which is valuable,
which is education. I hereby ask you to reconsider aid for all adult schools. As a student,
I see education as the key to success for the future of my family and to improve the
education of my children. On the other hand, I help my community from school
by participating in the programs that exist in the school, which are census,
green team, hot food service, student ambassador, and more.

Please don’t cut our budget. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Edy Vasquez