The controversy surrounding the Dream Act further develops the issue of merit-based aid. The Dream Act would give protection for undocumented students, and this has stirred controversy due to the sensitive nature of immigration politics. The Dream Act will likely produce more college graduates within the United States, and by 2020, if the Act is implemented, the US would possess the highest rate of college graduates in the world. Opponents argue that federal dollars should prioritize existing citizens, not undocumented students.
I think financial aid should be given to students who deserve the money that they apply for. I believe students who put in the effort should be rewarded with assistance. There are many factors in dispensing government aid that need to be reworked in order for the system to be fair. Should students be reviewed and looked into closely, to know what they truly work for, or should they simply be given aid because of the financial need shown in their application?
[pullquote_right]Students who are most likely to feel excluded from attending college deserve to know that even when the process is overwhelming, getting aid is possible.[/pullquote_right]Some students who belong to well-off families cannot depend on any financial support from their parents, but often are denied from federal assistance because of their parents’ income. Other low-income families are not capable of financially supporting their student’s college education. I suggest that there should be a separate essay for those wishing to claim financial assistance despite their family’s income to benefit those students who excel.
Those in charge of allocating aid ought to reflect deeply on the financial factors of attending college that may ultimately determine whether a student furthers their education. If granted financial assistance, the student should be able to first show how they will properly apply their aid even before they prove the lack of income within their household. Merit-based aid should be just as closely scrutinized and harshly reviewed. For the time being, roughly equal distribution among both merit and need-based aid is the most practical application.
My aid experience has taught me much. It’s an effort that requires persistence. Students who are most likely to feel excluded from attending college deserve to know that even when the process is overwhelming, getting aid is possible. I also believe the financial aid system requires new oversight and revision. The system will continue to seem unfair until those who allocate funds make the process more open to students who can prove themselves ready to excel and succeed. Until this time, we as students will attempt to prove ourselves worthy.
In 2006, over 25 youth began participating in weekly after-school writing workshops where they congregated in the hallway of a two-story building in West Fresno and learned the essentials of creating media and telling their stories. The group evolved over the next five years and is now proudly recognized as The kNOw Youth Media.
Through our program, we create opportunities for our youth participants, who in turn create long-term positive change in their communities. Our approach weaves youth development and youth media innovation to produce our biannual youth publication, multimedia projects, and community forums.
The kNOw began as a project of New America Media, which was the country’s first and largest national collaboration and advocate of 2000 ethnic news organizations. In 2018 The kNOw became a project of Youth Leadership Institute.
