Educational freedom. This highly underrated concept is one of the foundational bases of American education. Though many people talk about freedom in education, few have any idea of what it actually means. Further, although most people in the U.S. would agree that everyone has a right to attend a college or university, few actually understand the significance of this.

Are you aware that in many other countries, officials determine whether students as young as fourteen should be eligible to participate in a college degree program? In many countries, teachers decide which high school a student should be able to attend. Only students who attend certain high schools are eligible to earn a high school program that enables them to earn a degree at a postsecondary institution.

Many countries do this for practical reasons. No one would argue that it limits an individual’s potential, however. Students who obtain these vocational or general certificates of education will never be eligible to attend college degree programs in their home countries.

In contrast, students in the United States are free to earn a college degree at home, through distance learning programs, or through the completion of a traditional degree program. Any student who graduates from high school or earns a GED can earn a bachelor degree, attend a graduate degree program, or even earn a PhD. Although the American educational system is far from perfect, the United States still remains the land of learning opportunities for all of its citizens.

Twenty-three years ago, a young man’s family announced to the world that he had contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion. Ryan White died before he was able to get his high school diploma or begin a college degree program, but his legacy in the fight against the stigma experienced by people with AIDS lives on.

Two days ago, the House of Representatives passed a bill initiated by the Senate, and the President is expected to sign it into law. This bill reverses the automatic ban issued decades ago against people with AIDS who wish to visit or immigrate to the United States.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that thousands of people with AIDS will flock to the country, but it does offer some indication that Americans are less paralyzed by fear of individuals who are HIV positive. University enrollment could be affected by a small influx of foreign citizens, but it remains too early even to guess at this possibility.

I remember when frightened parents started an alternative school to prevent their children from attending with Ryan White. I remember also the tiny school in Indiana that welcomed him and shook his hand on his first day at a new school in 1987. Somehow, I don’t think that, even as ill as he was toward the end of his life, Ryan White would have chosen to earn a college degree at home.

I never met him, but I saw his face frequently on the news during those years. He looked like a young man who would never be afraid to stand for his ideals, and I had a great deal of respect for him. Not all of us, however, are called to as public a position as this young man. Further, many people with AIDS have too many health problems and spend too much time in the hospital to attend college degree programs.

For these people, the opportunity to earn a degree online is priceless. They can take online degree courses, and get an online Bachelor Degree in accounting, earn a business degree, or even get a computer science degree through a distance degree program. These individuals can work on their education when they are feeling well, and take time off from courses when their health becomes a struggle. In addition to health problems, the virtual interaction with peers and professors means that they don’t have to cope with illness-related stigma.

This new law won’t make the stigma attached to AIDS disappear overnight. It is one more step, however, in our society’s growth against unfair judgments and sanctions against people who live with AIDS. And, thank goodness for online degree universities, which offer these individuals an option to get an education without stigma, judgment, or emotional anguish.

Distance Associate Degree Programs with Style

Do your friends lovingly call you a fashionista? Do you have a flair for dress and style that goes way beyond the ordinary? If you have thought about entering the world of fashion and design, read on to learn more about the value of completing a college degree program before you go into business for yourself.

The world of fashion involves much more than creativity and designing beautiful clothing. Understanding the market and knowing whether you are getting a good deal on merchandise is also important to running a successful business. You don’t need to have a business degree to succeed, but some university education will help you to manage your business more wisely.

If thoughts of education conjure up ivy-covered buildings and endless hours of lecture in a stifling windowless room, don’t despair. Many distance learning degree programs now offer online degree programs in fashion design. Students can earn a college degree at home without ever setting foot in a classroom. What’s more, they can learn on their own terms, at the pace that best suits their needs.

Find out more about distance associate degree programs that offer new opportunities for fashion design students. Search through the list of college degree programs to find the right one. It’s time to get started, and earn what you deserve, doing what you love.