A college student’s favorite line or phrase heard on campus is usually “free (insert item)!” Whether that be food, t-shirts, tickets, you name it. We students are in that middle time frame in life. The one where most of us don’t have a steady job to support ourselves, but also aren’t kids living at home anymore. So, naturally getting something for “free” is a great luxury. It’s something we would be crazy to pass up on when the opportunity arises.

However, what about college itself? Should college be free? Bernie Sanders sure seemed to think so when he ran in the previous election, and many young millennials agreed with him. Maybe even you did. Again, college kids love the word “free”, so it wasn’t hard for him to persuade the masses.

But what does this really mean for students across the country, getting this “free” education? I’m sure you’re noticing that I keep putting the word "free" in quotations. Unless you’re talking about feelings or emotions, nothing in life is free, especially your education. So, no, college should absolutely not be free, and here’s why.

First of all, do you pay taxes? Probably not. Okay, so you might have a part time job where a little portion of your paycheck goes to the government, but I’m talking about do you personally fill out the tax form every year? I’m guessing the answer is still no. If college were made free to everyone going, it would still have to be paid for somehow. Money doesn’t just appear out of thin air. So, your hardworking parents, grandparents, siblings etc. would see more of their paycheck disappear each month to cover the cost of this “free” college. They would see even more of the money they worked their butts off for (or rather they wouldn’t see) go to the government.

What’s the point of working hard to get an education and find a job if you just have to give more of what you earn away? Some people argue, well I can’t afford to go to college and get a degree so I won’t even be able to get a job and earn money. Newsflash: that’s what scholarships, student loans, in-state tuition, community colleges, grants, aid and all that stuff is for. No, paying back student loans is not fun or something you want to have to think about, I get it. I apply for scholarships every year and usually receive nothing. However, that only makes me want to work harder. Knowing that my parents are funding my education gives me the drive to finish with a degree to go out in the world and be able to provide for myself.

Also, if college was “free”, the government would have a lot more control over what goes on in the school system. When you pay for college, you are choosing to get an education at the institution of your choice. Yes, that’s right, college is a CHOICE. And since it is, we shouldn’t be required to pay for it for someone else. It’s not like public school in grades K-12 where you had to go. If the government was in charge of our great universities, students would be less likely to have a voice in their education or something they wanted to see change on campus. You choose a college based on where you fit and where you can get the best education. Each one is different and we should want to keep it that way.

I know getting something without having to pay for it can be great, and I love it when my college has free food and t-shirt events. It’s fun and exciting. But college and education is simply not like that. It would all be nice if we could go for free and not pay a dime. But wake up and take a reality check because the hard-working Americans who went to college (and probably paid student loans) and have jobs are not funding your education. They’re paying for their families, their health and their life. Don’t you want to work hard and be able to do the same?