President’s proposal presents new possibilities for college students
Over half of campus probably cries at night at the thought of all the debt they will face after graduation. College isn’t always easy, folks, and with the amount of money students must constantly spend between books and tuition, the thought of debt can make a person curl into the fetal position.
Jessy Forsmo-Shadid
Thankfully, President Barack Obama has a proposal that could help future college students refrain from tears and constant thoughts of the looming debt. In the State of the Union speech Tuesday night, President Obama spoke of a plan to make two years of community college tuition free for some students.
This proposal shocked the public and the media. The thought of saving two years worth of tuition by attending community college sounds incredible.
The pros that come with not having to pay for two years of community college tuition are great.
Community college students can take classes to get general education requirements out of the way and then transfer those credits to a larger university. Some associate’s degrees would even be nearly free, if Obama’s plan passes.
There are so many great things that come with this proposal. But one has to wonder if this proposal is too good to be true. After all, the cost of paying for two years of community college must come from somewhere. What really lies ahead for our country’s education, if this proposal comes to light?
Students have been known to take on multiple jobs on top of going to school just so they could pay off future debt. There is a stigma for college students that one must be constantly working, because if you aren’t, the end of your college education could be marked with a diploma and thousands of dollars in debt.
If Obama’s plan goes into effect, the result would be a decrease of stress related to money. This ease of tensions would allow students to focus on classes without the looming threat of debt. A student could have decreased emotional and financial stress and therefore be able to breathe a little easier with less debt.
Not only would this proposal help students while they are currently in school, but could help people after they have graduated. Right now, most graduates can look forward to years of debt repayment. Without an extra two years of additional costs for college education, a former student can be more focused on their career and the life that they have built for themselves.
In any case, this proposal is exciting news for future college students. Future students have the opportunity to receive an education without the significant amount of debt that current students might have by graduation. The future holds the answer of whether this proposal will take effect and what consequences it will have on choices regarding college education.
Jessy Forsmo- Shadid can be reached at [email protected]