As students file their FAFSA applications and Ithaca College works to select the class of 2014, freshman Divine Marsh’s story reminds the campus of the financial struggles college students face. More importantly, it highlights the spirit of humanity present among the college’s student population.

Marsh’s classmates are commended for combining their time and energy to help a peer when she needed it most. Students are urged to emulate the inspiring efforts put forth by Marsh’s friends in support of her.

Coming together as a student body is crucial to the college’s success. By unifying our approach in matters of extreme circumstances, resolving the issue —  regardless of its content — becomes much easier. A united student body can make change happen, as Marsh’s peers demonstrated.

Marsh’s story also emphasizes the importance of financial aid in meeting the costs of college tuition. With the approval of the new budget, President Tom Rochon cited his efforts to increase financial aid for students. However, it is still hard to satisfy a large student population. Attending college is an expensive choice, but seeking outside scholarships and filling out the FAFSA on time will only help students.

Marsh’s experience at the college illustrates a commitment from the student body to help one another, but it also underlines the need for students to tap into all of their resources, at home and at college, to offset the cost of an Ithaca College education.