My family fled from Saigon on the last day of the war, April 30, 1975. We rushed to the harbor and were given deck space on a US Navy ship. We escaped with our lives and the clothes on our backs. As penniless refugees we went to Fort Chaffee Arkansas and were then resettled with a host family in California.

The entire family worked very hard and were strongly encouraged to study STEM (math and science). We became doctors, dentists, engineers, and other technical experts. Our generation has been very successful and has lifted Asian Americans to become the most financially successful group in America today.

This pathway to success is now under attack. As a mother of 4 this concerns me greatly. The problem is our failing STEM education system. According to the Wall Street Journal, American 15-year-olds lag SEVEN YEARS BEHIND Chinese 15-year-olds in math. In Arizona 2/3rds of math students fail to meet MINIMUM standards. And we fall further behind every year. This should frighten all of us. How can our kids get into competitive college programs and get good jobs? How can they compete in the new AI economy?

There’s only one candidate running for office on the platform of “Fix STEM Now.” You may have seen his signs around the district. His name is Anthony Ramirez and he’s running for Arizona Senate as an Independent (NOL). His proposal would fund a dedicated stream of revenue to STEM education without raising taxes. It would also require reforms needed in our educational system.

STEM education is THE critical issue of our time. Whatever your party affiliation, Republican, Democrat, or Independent, we must find a way to come together and fix this problem before it ruins the next generation of kids. Please get out and vote on November 3rd or by early ballot.

Sincerely,

Quynh Nhu Dinh