Dear Mr. or Mrs. President,

My dream is to be the first in my family ever to receive a college degree. I am well on the way to achieving this goal, but one significant roadblock stands in my way, as well as in the way of thousands of other working class students. I don’t see how many students could ever hope to attend college when tuition fees are at their highest.

The reason public school exists is because the government has decided to make an investment in the next generation. I don’t see how this generation can achieve greatness if college isn’t easily accessible. This investment is going to fail miserably if college tuition doesn’t become more affordable for the next generation of students.

Adults today like to talk about how lazy we millennials are, being so dependent on technology. The truth is, Mr. or Mrs. president, that most of us are trying very hard to succeed and attend college to further our education. Myra Smith, Executive Director of Financial Aid Services for the College Board, states on bigfuture.collegeboard.com that the average tuition fee for public colleges is $9,410 for in-state students and $23,890 for out-of-state students. It has also come to my attention that public colleges are charging 20% more for tuition every year. These numbers are ridiculous and, when I attend college in 3 years, I fear they will be out of control.

Financial aid can be provided through scholarships and loans, but these forms of aid do have serious drawbacks. Scholarships only go so far and they provide no assistance for students ineligable for said scholarships. Student loans are a problem all their own. Any student who cannot afford tuition and must take out loans will have a crushing debt following them around for a lifetime. America is supposed to be the place where anyone can rise above their set place in the societal hierarchy to be whatever they want to be, but we cannot rise with these weights tied to our ankles from student loan debt.

So, Mr. or Mrs. President, I ask you: How are we making an investment in the next generation by making college utterly unaffordable and tying those weights to our ankles through student loan debt? If a student like me wants to be president someday, how are we supposed to rise above the middle class position at which we sit and achieve our dream if we cannot receive a higher education? Please help students like me achieve the American Dream and become whatever we want in life. Please make college within reach of the working class.

Sincerely,

Ashlyn M.