The year 2030 may sound like it’s far away, but for a lot of students here in Merced County, it means important parts of their educational path are coming up fast. For some, it may be graduating from high school, their first year in high school, or maybe someone’s first year in school. Our officials have an obligation to serve their constituents, even if they’re not of voting age.
Merced County is home to one of the most unique educational ecosystems in California, with both Merced College and UC Merced residing in the county, with an impressive sphere of influence. With this, we have students able to achieve excellence in our backyards.
Agricultural education is much more than just agriculture. It’s a way of preparing students for career readiness and confidence. During my four years in high school, I was a member of Pacheco FFA, serving as a chapter officer. Through this experience, I got to learn that education doesn’t have to be a boring task, but rather one that can be stimulating for both the students and educators. I believe students should be able to have a class they always look forward to attending, especially one that develops a lifelong skill. When you have students that are excited about one class, even if it’s one class, it’s still an interest in education.
We must not forget the importance of STEM education. Similar to agricultural education, it’s a very hands-on field with various pathways for students to get into. It goes beyond just science, or technology, or engineering, or math, but rather various fields that pull from all four, meaning every student has a place in STEM.
However, there are still issues when it comes to access. When it comes to STEM education, the Central Valley is often neglected. Our representatives must advocate stronger for the sake of our students and our region’s future. We can have an economy rooted in agriculture while also having students who want to become scientists. These things are not mutually exclusive, with some students believing they have to settle for what’s around them. With UC Merced, a research university, being in our backyard, we must push for more partnerships between both local districts and the university.
Partnerships are what make communities great. Both Merced College and UC Merced must continue their efforts before and after 2030. Students should understand they might not have to leave their hometown in order to access opportunities, but we must ensure they’re aware of them
There are also fields that we have not truly invested in, with environmental science being an example. When I attended high school, the only environmental science class that was offered was AP environmental science, with no non-AP class alternatives. Students must have the ability to learn about the world around them, especially with climate change threatening our way of life and economy here in the Central Valley. We can empower the next generation of students to dig deeper into climate solutions, ones rooted in their communities.
We must understand that not every student is “one-size-fits-all”, but rather an open canvas for them to paint the future they want. Schools should not define what success means for a student. They should give students the tools and resources to define it themselves.
My educational story is an attestation to this idea. I did AP classes, played football, was in FFA, and was in our speech and debate club. At Merced College, I decided to pursue a degree in General Agriculture, got active in local politics, was a club officer for our LatinX Club, did undergraduate research at UC Merced, and much more. I mention this because I hope it gives hope to students that their path is not strange or weird, but rather one that’s instinctually their own.
When we force students into this mentality that you have to attend a CSU or UC in order to be successful, we risk students who may not thrive in a traditional education environment on a path to disappointment, making them feel like they’re the reason why they failed. Success means many things. It isn’t this monolithic and abstract idea. For one student, it may be attending a four-year university. For another, it may be attending community college, doing a vocational program or attending trade school, military service, or even finding work that feels fulfilling to them straight out of high school.
Regardless of the path they choose, it must be for themselves.
Jesse D. Perez is a Merced College student, and he is running for the Area 5 trustee seat on the Merced County Board of Education in the November 2026 election.