Yesterday I took a walk along a familiar path and noticed the dismantling of this dock. The structure no doubt needed repair and to be fair another more substantial metal dock is being built just a few yards away. The three wooden docks are being replaced by one more robust version. While I am not a person who fishes I understand there is an advantage to having access to the deeper part of a lake to catch larger fish.

The disappearing dock however made me think about the state of education and the current disruption to federal funding as I was a beneficiary of grants and loans on my own journey. I needed both to reach my goal of obtaining higher education. I knew without continuing my education I would find myself at a disadvantage in the job market.

So what happens to the people who want to fish on the docks that have been removed? I saw several fishing from the bank as the newer metal dock was closed off as it is still under construction. Will these people fishing from the shore have the opportunity to catch fish, of course. Will they have the sane opportunity to catch the larger fish from the deeper part of the lake, no.

Students need access to higher education now just as they did in years past and as they will in the future. Without loans and grants potential will be cut off from access to greater opportunities now and in the future. This could be a step backwards for generations who have been working to break poverty cycles.