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I do believe that the government should be among many sources of aid to college students. There are thousands of sources of funds, and local, state, and federal grants and loans are only a few of these sources. Unfortunately, many students do not know, nor are they made aware, of the money sources. Many do not know how to tap into them.

Many older readers of Helium articles grew up before the age of the computer and Internet. Research, including scholarship research, had to be done by hand with the use of library resources. I would like to see a survey done about how many baby boomers knew of the Peterson's scholarship guides or even the FAFSA. I would also wonder how many high schools have yearly workshops on scholarship searches. I grew up in a very highly taxed community, yet I never saw the high school hold any of these workshops. I definitely could have used one, as I knew nothing of how to utilize any of the resources. The misconception I had was that no middle-class family would be eligible for any financial assistance. The school guidance department made no effort to show me anything to refute this misconception. I wonder now how aware they were themselves of what was out there beyond sports scholarships.

State and federal law should mandate that every student be made aware of any available source of aid. Every guidance department, in conjunction with every school or local library. must be familiarized with scholarship information and pass it on to every student via brochure, workshop, or any other means of dissemination. Not only must every student be made aware of the many available sources, but also how to apply for them. Nearly always, scholarship donors require letters of recommendation, transcripts, or other documents to be submitted by a stringent deadline. If the school does not emphasize the need to obtain all these documents and to submit the applications on time, the student's parents or caregivers may not push the issue either, resulting in too many missed opportunities.

I strongly believe that every high school student must be prepared to face his or her individual future. If not college-bound, he or she should be taught every step in applying for vocational training and employment. Every English class needs to cover the college admission essay, and even resume and cover-letter writing, as part of the curriculum. Research techniques, interview skills and professional communication skills are valuable to everyone, not just the business and secretarial students.

There is so much more that schools can do to prepare their graduates for the college or working world. Yet too many young people come out unsure, unconfident, and unfit to face the lions and bears out there. Our educators are responsible for our young people and their futures.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Kooper.
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