Something’s Gotta Give for Today’s Students
By Barbara Gooch
I pulled into an unfamiliar church in my community that’s become an increasingly important resource to local citizens for reasons aside from faith. I joined the long, winding line of vehicles to collect a food box and some needed diapers. And while most might think I collect these supports for myself, I do it for my daughter — a former parenting student who can no longer continue her educational journey, partly due to rising basic needs costs and food insecurity.
The church drive-thru gives a clear reminder of the dividing line where the concept of America as a melting pot starts and stops. The gap between thriving and surviving is expanding, especially for students in higher ed struggling to maintain basic needs, with 46.8% of students facing food insecurity. While students often pursue postsecondary education to help them increase their chances at a viable career, too many find themselves faced with the decision to pursue an education or try to make ends meet to have food. This outcome for students results in higher college dropout rates and lower college enrollment rates as the progressive struggle continues with placing food on the table.
As both a mother who attended college at the same time as all four of my adult children and a nontraditional college student enrolled both pre- and post-pandemic, I have witnessed the continued struggle of college students and their families. Students need access to essential support like SNAP to achieve their personal and professional goals.
What can we do to help students like us? Policy work must continue to seek solutions and Congress must consider the most in-need college students who are delaying their college completion dream and struggling with their basic needs. My daughter facing food insecurity is realistic of the hardships numerous students are experiencing. SNAP benefits must be made more accessible to students who are in need and dealing with significant food insecurity. Doing so will allow them to stay in school and become strong contributing members of the U.S. workforce and economy. Let’s make the changes necessary to allow the American dream to be realized and turn the untold college dropout stories into celebrated success stories.
