One of the happiest moments in a person’s life is becoming a parent. A child brings joy to a family. As a parent, you are responsible for providing the needs of your child from infancy until they leave home. A huge responsibility is motivating them to continue in school and to assist them in receiving a quality education.

Discuss the importance of pursuing a college education or vocational/technical trade with your child. As they journey through middle school, listen to their career ideas. Ask them about their future goals. Their career goals may change when they reach high school but if you have encouraged them to prepare for their future, they will settle on a college curriculum, whether it is liberal arts or a specific degree program or a vocational/technical program.

Make them aware of the importance of a scholarship and other financial aid options. If you discuss financial matters with your child early on, they will understand what it takes to pursue their goal. Listen to your child and work with them to keep them motivated to study and earn good grades.

When your child is ready for college, you have to think about their financial needs. Expenses for a college-bound child include fees for SAT tests and transcripts of records. Once accepted, additional costs may include food and lodging if your child is going to a college away from home. Books and a computer are other necessities.

You may feel overwhelmed when you start to create a budget for college. If you have other children, their daily needs have to be considered. Your salary may not be enough to meet these expenses. Applying for financial aid can relieve some of the stress. Begin your search for financial aid while your child is still in high school. Here are some tips to jump-start the process:

Use the Internet to search for potential colleges that offer scholarships as well as financial aid programs for freshman students. When you find a prospective school, review its scholarship and financial aid material online. If you need more information, visit the school or write a letter. Find out what the cut-off dates are for filing financial aid applications. Search the Internet for additional types of scholarships. Community groups offer scholarships for students in their area for general studies or specific areas of concentration. There are also foundations that offer scholarships nationally. As your child nears graduation, review the information you collected and update it as needed.

It is disappointing when a child finds out that the career and goals they have set cannot be realized. Despite your family’s limited monetary resources, financial aid and scholarship programs can help your child achieve their financial goals.

Sandra is a founder and board member of the Clementine Mathis Rouse Scholarship Fund. A scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior each year and the dedication and achievements of a teacher is acknowledged each year. The fund is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Learn more about The Fund.

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