ROSY | Life with Rose Colors

For many people, a bright future starts with good education. The President has on many occasions emphasized the need for a strong education system. Many important people are focused on increasing scholarship opportunities and improving education. One familiar part of the economic meltdown is the rise in college tuition and other costs. Tuition and housing costs often far exceed scholarship offers. Many potential students suffer and are unable to afford to go to college. Single moms are especially affected in a bad way. More education helps single mothers achieve on their jobs and take care of their families. Creating college grants for moms is one way the President is dealing with this issue. Federal Pell Grants have now been fondly called Obama grants. Currently students can earn about $5,350 through a Pell grant. The primary goal is to encourage single moms to return to school, and by 2012 they could receive as much as $5,400. The scholarship money covers practically all school-related expenses. Another incentive to consider is the American Opportunity Tax Credit. With this tax credit, the first $4,000 of college expenses are free. This $4,000 write off can be a big help to many students. Single moms often fall into this group, so these programs are particularly beneficial to them. There are plenty of options on where, when and what a student can study. With a few less money worries, more single mothers can attend college. Making more efforts to improve education opportunities is the best way for President Obama to show that he values them. With some changes to the lending system, many graduate and undergraduate loans will be less costly. Preparing schools and students for success is an important Obama administration mission. Higher education at a 2-year college can be a great option, and there is emphasis being put on that fact. Community colleges are more than a stepping stone on the way to a university. They are valuable institutions. In his 2007 Reclaiming the American Dream speech, Obama stated, "We need to put a college education within reach of every American. That's the best investment we can make in our future." President Obama has shown he is serious about action. Scholarships for moms are only a small part of the mission to help educate more people. Traditional and non-traditional students alike have numerous opportunities to put their education first.