(September 30, 2011) — As we honor the 10th anniversary of one of the nation’s most devastating tragedies this month, we start to think about our country’s current condition and its pending restoration. A topic that comes to mind is spending. The United States has had a history of helping other nations and welcoming foreigners; we have aided countries like Israel, spent billions of dollars on a war to help the people of Iraq, and are now starting to consider a measure that would give undocumented students the chance to pursue higher education. As valiant and generous as the U.S. has been, we can’t help but wonder if it has been too giving. Earlier this month, the California State Senate approved the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which would ultimately give students who are illegal immigrants the opportunity to apply for financial aid and go to college. Its advocates support the bill for the promising future it offers to qualified students. Our country is known as the land of opportunity and dreams, but isn’t this the time when we need to start putting things into perspective? If the state had enough money, funding undocumented students might not be a problem. But the state’s budget deficit of over $15 billion is no small matter. Having goals and aspirations doesn’t seem like a good enough reason to put the interests of illegal immigrants ahead of those of the many well-qualified, legal students in the U.S. We all have aspirations, as well as talents and ideas to share with the world. Should we really put our limited funds toward helping students other than our own, at the risk of opening the door to more expectant illegal aliens? Would it make sense to adopt a child knowing that you don’t have enough money to feed your biological son or daughter? It is time to focus on nurturing our own and improving our country. We need not only to change, but to progress.