I grew up in an education desert but made it to UCSC – rural California needs funding so students can thrive

February 15, 2026 - 19:55

Ava Thornock's journey to the University of California, Santa Cruz, was a three-hour trek from a place she describes as an "education desert." Growing up in Amador County, she experienced the profound isolation faced by many rural students: no local college, unreliable internet, and a pervasive sense of being disconnected from opportunity.

Now a second-year biochemistry student, Thornock credits her academic access at UCSC with fundamentally reshaping her future. Her experience, however, underscores the systemic barriers that continue to hold back countless others. She highlights how a combination of vast distances, persistent poverty, critical staffing shortages in schools, and inadequate transportation create a formidable blockade to higher education for rural youth.

This challenge is poised to intensify. With potential state and federal funding cuts on the horizon, Thornock issues a urgent appeal for California to prioritize its rural education infrastructure. She argues that targeted investment in K-12 schools and community colleges in these regions is not merely beneficial, but essential. Strengthening these foundational institutions is the key to building bridges to university and ensuring that talent and potential, regardless of zip code, can thrive. Her story is a testament to success, but also a stark reminder of the support systems needed to replicate it for all students.