The only reason I’m able to afford my education at DU is through financial aid and my on-campus job. This is true for many students across different private universities in Colorado and nationwide.
I’m tired of constantly having to wonder whether I will be able to continue my education because of the decisions to raise tuition. Of course, there was the option to choose a cheaper, public education. But as a child of immigrants, there are resources and opportunities that are only accessible through a private education that made the extra cost worth it.
When I heard the news of Colorado House Bill 1345 proposed to cut state-funded financial aid for all Colorado private universities, I had many anxieties. This bill,which was passed by Colorado lawmakers and is now awaiting signature from the governor, would eliminate federal Pell grants, the Colorado Opportunity Fund and the Colorado Work-Study award.
As a psychology major applying to work-study research assistant positions, this makes me wary about the future of research at DU, as most of the research positions offer a work-study option.
Recently, I’ve been reaching out to DU alumni for informational chats, and it’s opened my eyes to the possibilities outside of undergraduate education. Holding a DU degree comes with connections that are priceless, and if this bill is signed into law, it could rewrite the futures of so many underprivileged undergraduate and graduate students alike.
There is often only a small gap between a student being able to pursue higher education and choosing not to because of financial hardship — and that difference can be life-changing. The people who would be affected the most from this bill are people who hold the most capacity to change the world for a better place.
Immigrant, first-generation and low-income students are the future, as their unique lived-experiences provide a holistic world-view that comes from a place of understanding struggle and wanting to fix generational problems. If there’s anything the world needs more of, it’s students like these. Emphasizing lived experience in education is imperative in fostering a community where everyone can thrive.
DU calls itself a dream school — “the Harvard of the west.” But if we really want to live up to that expectation, I believe we must reevaluate who is being considered when making decisions about the future of education. Changemakers lie in those who are the least considered.
