Going to school every day in Herndon, Virginia, classrooms lacked sufficient laptops and materials for each student. Yet twenty five minutes away in the McLean area, are students with their own laptops and facilities purchased by the school that fosters their success, and theirs alone. The zipcode that divided us enforced an invisible wall that limited opportunity. The difference between student achievement and potential, hinges on the availability of resources. Students in low income communities are expected to perform at the same level compared to those in more developed and wealthier districts. This is not only limited to Virginia, but for communities throughout the United States. Funding for public schools is based on property taxes, which means wealthier communities raise more money for their schools. This system rewards the rich and punishes the poor. Through my involvement in the Fairfax County Global Leaders Program, I know that at the heart of lasting change is through collaboration and understanding. This program brings students all over Fairfax County to discuss issues related to inequality and sustainability. Through that, I realize that issues like these are nation-wide in scale, but local action one step at a time makes the biggest difference, because that is where meaningful progress originates. If I had a platform to create change, I would propose a Resource Equity Act, an Initiative that distributes property taxes from each district into a statewide pool that then redistributes funding into each district proportionally based on student population, so each community has the same opportunity to provide the resources necessary for a proper education for each individual. This goal ensures every student, regardless of where they live, has the same basic access to the tools that can enable them to achieve their full potential. Every student deserves an equal chance to succeed, not because of their income or where they live, but because they are students worth investing in. Educational inequality is more than a policy problem to me. I’ve seen my closest friends go through the wrong path and destroy their futures due to a lack of opportunity. This is why I feel reforming our educational funding system would make a huge difference. This change tears down that invisible wall that divides students. This policy provides them an equal opportunity to succeed, no matter the community they reside in. Let's make sure each student's future shines bright, no matter where they reside.