“The great truth about America is if you get an education, anybody can be anybody.”   

This belief, voiced by U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, is the foundation of my family’s view of education. From as early as I can remember, my mother instilled in me the importance of education and the opportunities it could bring.

But if you don’t get an education, does that make you a nobody? Statistics show that about one in four Indiana students fail to earn high school diplomas within four years, state officials say.

Pence says school vouchers are one way to improve the quality of education — and ultimately the prospects — for all students. Vouchers — certificates issued by the government — help parents pay for tuition at schools of their choice.

Milwaukee, Wis., leads the U.S. in use of school vouchers and now has nearly 18,000 students taking advantage of the system. Students can attend public or private schools, with the government providing tuition assistance for either.

 I support school vouchers. I live in an urban area but have been able to go to private school from the start. I have benefited from a curriculum that has allowed me to travel to Europe, learn Latin, volunteer in my community, and meet people I never would have had a chance to meet. Private school also has provided me with structure and taught me good habits I can use in and out of the classroom.

Vouchers will allow other students to enjoy some of the experiences I have had. Not only will they benefit, but so will public school students, whose schools will have to improve both in performance and programs to retain and attract new students.

By having a real choice in schools, I believe students will truly be able to become anybody they want to be.