At Young Invincibles, we have an unwavering commitment to elevating the voices of young adults in the political process. With our mission in mind, we asked some young adults from our Young Advocates program in Colorado to tell us their thoughts on a college degree and how mental health issues could be addressed on campus. Here is what they had to say:

“I think college degrees should be more affordable. Everyone should be able to follow their dreams regardless of the cost. The education system makes getting a degree punishing and almost entirely impossible to do without asking for loans and grants. Right now, students have to go through so many financial barriers than ever before just to attend college. While the economy is always changing, students are having to constantly adapt — making it harder to afford rising tuition costs. But earning a college degree allows the next generation to help shape the world and create more innovation, allowing students a chance to achieve what they want to achieve.” — Johnny Nguyen, a Young Advocate with Young Invincibles

“Young people seek out higher education to better themselves and to expose themselves to a variety of fields and disciplines. Making sure that tuition is affordable for every student will help students reach their career goals and help them adapt better to the changing times. We need to act now to make higher education more affordable for today’s students.” — Matin Sanaei, a Young Advocate with Young Invincibles

“Colleges can address mental health issues on campus by promoting accessible and diverse mental health services. By meeting an individual where they’re at, colleges create a supportive and understanding environment for students to thrive and grow. Ultimately, these efforts take place through joint efforts in which the institution is being informed by students.” — Adriana Lopez, a senior at Regis University in Denver, Colorado

“Talking about mental health is the first way to address mental health issues on campus. End the stigma and give those who struggle the opportunity to seek help. Then implement strategies on campus to meet the needs of students like access to counseling, NA and AA meetings, and suicide prevention training.” — Rebecca Turner, a Young Advocate with Young Invincibles and a Behavioral Psychology and Environmental Sciences major at the Community College of Denver