I have an older sister who is graduating from college this year with about $11,000 in student loans, and she is one of the lucky ones. With the average debt after college at $19,000 and many undergraduate students leaving college with debts exceeding $40,000, it’s pretty intimidating to prepare for college and try to find a way to pay. So, is the government helping students enough or do they need to do more?

Most students pay around $80,000 for four years of college. If you work, get help from your family, financial aid, scholarships, and budget your money, you might be able to come out of school with minimum debts, but most students aren’t that lucky. This is a big reason why 40% of students in college attend community colleges, to save money.

With America's economic status in a serious downfall, adults and students alike are starting to manage their money more seriously. Having a well paying and steady job isn't being taken for granted any longer. While adults question about losing their jobs, students then question the chance of getting a job. Since most adults have been in the work force longer, they won't have as a hard of a time keeping a job or being hired at a new one, but students will. In the long run, the answer for students is getting a college education. College enrollment and admissions have greatly increased in around the past 10 years. Having a college education will put you in front of many people, and give you a greater chance of keeping a job or even getting one. Many students, nowadays, have two basic choices of which type of college to go to: a community college or a university. They both offer a college education, but many people wonder, which one offers a better education and is more worth your time?

The life of a high school student can be extremely stressful in this day and age. Most adults do not realize how much work goes into the successes of the average teenager. From school work to after-school sports and arts, from in-school extracurriculars to minimum wage jobs and community service, there is little time for homework, a social life, or even an adequate amount of sleep. Getting into college is tougher and more competitive than ever. The pressure to do well is immense and, unfortunately, the older the student, the harder it is to keep up.

Luckily, there is more pay off to hard work than simply being accepted into college...literally! As most know, scholarships are money that is granted to high school juniors and seniors applying to college to help them afford the cost of books, housing, and tuition. Whether you're an athlete, have a parent in the military, or even left handed, there's a scholarship available for you. There are hundreds of scholarships, ranging from small to large sums of money and availability, but the most prestigious and generous scholarships are offered to the ones who work the hardest. The Marshall H. and Nellie Alworth Memorial Fund is among those scholarships.

The Alworth Scholarship was established in 1949 by a man named Marshall W. Alworth. He wanted to form a scholarship as a memorial to his parents, whom it is named after. This fund is specifically for graduating seniors who plan on pursuing a math or science- related degree. The founder's desire was to help fund the education of careers that would be beneficial to humanity.

Generation W: How long have you been in this career?

Dr. Pfeifer: In a sense I started in the medical field when I was 16 as an orderly at the Virginia hospital. But, I started working at Minntac as their doctor about 5 years ago.

GW: Describe your job duties.

DP: One of my job duties is to care for the overall health of the employees. Another duty is to make sure they are able to safely return to work after an injury or surgery. Some injuries I deal with are people needing stitches. I also make sure employees take certain safety precautions to protect their hearing and eyesight and make sure the employee takes care of themselves so they will have a long and healthy retirement.

GW: What is the necessary education need for this job?

DP:You need to earn your 4-year degree in college then you need to go to 4 years of medical school. After that you complete 3 years of post doctorate training.