It seems as though there is a societal pressure in America for people who come from poor financial situations to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps". It is a romance of the "American dream," one who comes from nothing and then becomes a billionaire as if by magic. It is a long-standing belief in this country that if you work hard enough, you can get yourself anywhere. It is also a claim that ignores the difficulties, corrupt systems, and real life financial burdens that exist in this country.
When I was in middle school, higher education was just an idea. It was like air to me. I knew it was there, but I could never see it. I never thought that it was within my reach. It was not until I was accidentally put into Advanced Placement English in the eleventh grade that I started to think about the possibilities of a college education. Earning a bachelors and masters degree became my American dream. I did very well in the class and I realized that I had a knack for writing. Why should I not go to college?
I had two main reasons why I had not put too much thought into college before then: I thought that I was not smart enough and I knew that I came from a lower-middle-class family. The whole "I'm-not-smart-and-I-can't-do-anything" situation had more to do with my own personal issues and toxic relationships. Those thoughts were crafted by my mind and other people. But the fact that I came from a low-income family was a real, legitimate concern. It is a reality for countless people across the country and it is a deep worry for poorer students. When a student comes from a low-income family, the student feels the pressures that come from pursuing their dreams.
I was greatful to receive scholarships and significant grants, but even so, a college education is expensive. Students from working class families know that they may be burdened with debt for years, but they also know that a degree eventually pays itself off. That is the biggest pressure: having to spend thousands of dollars one does not have in hopes of making a career into a better lifestyle. It is a cyclone of emotional stress for all students.
Some students may feel like no matter how hard they try in school, they will still end up buried by debt and suppressed by an unfair class system. With expensive education, it appears that a degree (which is necessary for many professions and career advancements) favors those who can afford it. It favors the wealthy or those who are willing to make sacrifices. Sacrifices that can be irritating to one and terribly stressful to another.
The cost of higher education comes up all the time in conversation. Many believe that the cost should be lowered. A lot of people think that a college education should be paid for by the government. There are several countries who have such a system and, in an ideal world, America would too.
That is every student's dream, whether that student comes from wealth or not. Nobody wants to be burdened with debt. Some detractors though claim that it would lower the value of a college degree. What is disturbing is that some people act as though a degree is simply bought, that anyone can have one as long as they have the money for it. A system that treats a degree like cash value lowers the value of learning.
Education should not be reserved for the wealthy. It should be open, available and affordable to anyone who is willing to work hard and learn. It may take a long time before college education becomes free, but it is essential that people work towards making higher education more affordable.
I consider myself lucky. I have not yet graduated with a degree yet, but the fact that I am the first person in my immediate family to attend a four-year university makes me proud. Maybe I will be the first to attend graduate school as well. I consider myself lucky because if I had been born a century ago, my education would have been very unlikely. There are issues in education today, but education is at a high point in history. It is much more available to people than before. It is more readily available.
People can access books freely and can find information more quickly through technology. Education is so important, and yet, it is not taken as seriously as it should be. Our country needs to make education a priority. If it becomes a priority for everybody, maybe, it will become more accessible and affordable for everybody.
