SMAS Student Yiqun Zou's Letter to Governor Newsom

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 Yiqun Zou shares her letter on this topic to Governor Newsom:

Dear Governor Newsom,

My name is Yiqun Zou, a student at San Mateo Adult School. My family comes to California in 2018 and has been living in Foster City since that time.

Because of your excellent work in protecting the California residents from the spread of COVID-19, most of us can stay safe. All my family and lots of my friends do deeply appreciate your impressive efforts.  

Today I am writing this letter to you to express my concern about the budget of Adult Education. I understand that the outbreak of COVID-19 imposes huge economic impact on all over the country including our California, and the government needs budget balance in this hard time. However, I have to say that Adult schools are very important to the stability of the whole state because they are the bridge between the ready-to-contribute residents and our whole community. The adult schools not only give those unemployed people a chance to refresh technical skills and power on, but also create a community for the immigrant to become familiar with the American language and culture. Our state economy needs quick recovery now,  and the adult school can do a big help, because most of the students of adult school can soon contribute their power for the state, who can educate the next generation in a better way or work directly to empower our economy which can promote the consuming and can rebate more tax to our state budget.

As my personal experience, San Mateo Adult School is an essential part of my life, because  I can learn English, make friends and get used to the culture and habits here. Teachers always encourage and keep us connected to each other and to the community, even during the Shelter In Place order effective period, they keep in touch with us through the online class, not only teaching our language skills ,but also helping us stay mental healthy. They did a really good job during the pandemic, we thank the school a lot. We truly hope Adult schools can keep a stable budget , and I kindly ask you not to cut  the budget for adult schools.

Thank you again for your charming leadership during the pandemic , and thank you for your support of Adult Education.

San Mateo Bridge

Sincerely,

Yiqun Zou

Foster City, CA