We are in a state of emergency.
Students nationwide are up in arms. Tuition costs are rising, book prices increase every semester and competition in the job market is at an all-time high.
Evidently, Southern California is also enduring harsh economic times when it comes to education.
Cal State Universities will have a 15 percent tuition hike by next fall and the Legislative Analysts Office, an office providing advisement to the California State Legislature, has recommended raising community college fees from $26 to $40 per unit.
Political figures defend us before they are elected, but no matter who is put in office, they never end up being “right” for us.
We’re told that now is the best time to go to college, but is it really?
Unit fees empty our pockets, so we take out loans. Even with scholarships, we are in debt after graduation.
It seems there is an abundance of things to be angry about, and not much to be particularly happy about.
So what do we habitually do to protect ours rights? Stand up for what we believe should be changed, and protest what we consider unjust.
We seemingly can’t catch a break, no matter how hard we fight.
There’s just one problem; we are making this issue of school-related financial hardship much worse than it already is.
Discouragement is a far greater threat to student livelihood than tuition costs, book prices, the job market, political policies, empty pockets and post-college debt.
We adopt attitudes that only hinder our success. Instead of having positive outlooks on the future, we focus on setbacks and how they ruin the college experience.
It is necessary to be aware of these obstacles, but we should not linger upon them.
College is an environment that should revolve around analysis. When students face setbacks, it is crucial to analyze them and come up with a resolution.
Focus on better budgeting to afford those costly books. Create a backup plan in the event you don’t get into the classes you need.
If things don’t go according to plan, think positive and remember that our nation’s financial crisis will get better.
It may not tomorrow, but it will.
There is nothing wrong with standing up for change in your community, but change is the result of a domino effect in the minds of the student population.
If one person gives up, we may as well all follow suit.
However, if everybody looks forward optimistically, then that change we are all so hungry for will arrive sooner than later.
(Eli Peun / Roundup)
