In a press call to student newspapers around the nation, President Barack Obama announced that his administration plans to reform the student loan repayment process as we know it. This new legislation adds to what we know as the “student aid bill of rights.”

Every student deserves access to a quality, affordable education at a college that’s cutting costs and increasing learning.

Every student should be able to access the resources needed to pay for college.

Every borrower has the right to an affordable repayment plan.

And every borrower has the right to quality customer service, reliable information, and fair treatment, even if they struggle to repay their loans.

This comes on the heels of his announcement of plans to make community college as universally free as high school is across the nation. These plans put forth a bold new strategy to truly make education a priority in this country and to give everyone the access to what can truly change their lives a college degree.

We have seen that change first hand with the effect and importance of a campus like Fresno City College to the rest of the community.

Many people coming directly out of high school need a campus like this in order to accomplish their goals or get back on a path that they would be proud to call their life. We all need help at one point or another and we all run into rough patches in life, but that does not mean that anyone is not worthy of receiving a high quality education. And no one should ever not have the opportunity to receive that chance because they cannot afford it.

So while it is an extremely long time coming, due to the fact that the cost of college all around the nation has rapidly increased throughout this decade, and over 4 million Californians owe a combined $112 billion dollars.

The amount of student debt that has accumulated in this country has become ridiculous and it is time that an American president step up to the plate to remove this ongoing problem. Numbers like that have casted a shadow of uncertainty and fear around the system of higher education in America and left nearly an entire generation questioning ‘is it worth it?’

And thanks to the actions of President Obama the answer is a resounding yes.

While it is true that the California Community College system has been far ahead of the curve allowing many to come on their campuses and learn without tuition cost, the price tag once we leave these campuses and step foot on a University of California or California State campus leave fear and doubt in the minds of students and only add to the amount of stress that they must face on top of the rigorous course work that they are attempting to handle.

Being a student has long been a difficult endeavor, and some who begin the journey unfortunately may not finish it. But under the umbrella of equal opportunity the president’s policies should be applauded, even though they should have happened a long time ago.