Letter to the Editor

Higher ed a personal expense

Editor's note: The following letter to the editor was submitted in response to the letter "Other options to fund roads" that appeared July 25.

Responding to Art Wallhausen: Our roads are important, but higher education is a personal expense. Higher education affects the child.

We paid our daughter's tuition from first through 12th grade, Notre Dame as her high school. Our investment was one of the best we could have made.

Mizzou was a wonderful college choice. Going in, she was in the top 10 percent of her class, thus granting her the President's Scholarship. She scored 31 on her ACT test, a second great scholarship. Because of her work, good grades and scholarships, we agreed to pay her college expenses. We work hard to make ends meet and sacrifice to pay for the things that are most important. She had a part-time job her first year. Her sophomore year through graduation she had two to three, 10 to 15 hours per week jobs and paid her off-campus housing. She made the Dean's list all four years while working her jobs, working hard for the Newman Center and the parish being on the Parish Board for three of her four years of college. She graduated with honors, no student loans, and a well-paid job before she graduated. I feel she proves that with hard work and sacrifice it is well worth the expense.

Our daughter did not receive free grants because our income was above poverty level because my husband and I both worked hard to provide for our family. No free handouts here and none wanted.

KAY WATKINS, Scott City