As a senior at Southern Oregon University, I urge legislators to continue to invest in public universities, particularly the Strong Start program, which could not have been fully funded without state investments in 2023.

Strong Start identifies Oregonian students who would fail and reduces gaps for them. When I started college at SOU, I was homeless and living on my own since I was a junior in high school. I didn’t know how to do anything but survive. 

Strong Start ensured I survived and developed academic, career and leadership skills. After my freshman year, I offered to be a Strong Start mentor. My mentees faced similar challenges as I did. They were foster kiddos, emancipated students, orphans, etc. 

One thing we had in common was that college is not designed for us to succeed because of our backgrounds; however, we all had the drive to do so, and needed an opportunity to prove it.

Strong Start helped me, and many others, find the tools we needed to succeed. Now, I am no longer homeless, and I have been accepted into a Medicinal Chemistry PhD program.

Five years ago, I couldn’t imagine completing a bachelor’s degree, let alone pursuing a graduate degree in chemistry. State support means young people like me, regardless of our background, have a chance at a better life that will contribute to the state of Oregon.

I urge legislators to allocate at least $1.1 billion this biennium for our public universities and $8 million for Strong Start.

Chloe Fiveash / Medford