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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — <\/span>For decades, a college education has been upheld as a crucial step toward building a solid career and financial future. But despite President Joe Biden’s recent student loan relief initiative<\/a>, countless students nationwide are concerned about how college could be a financial burden instead of an advantage.<\/p>\n However, a local program called High School Connections is trying to lessen the cost of a college education for current high school students. Organizers say they are trying to get more marginalized students to sign up.<\/p>\n High School Connections<\/a> (HSC) is a partnership with Cumberland County Schools and Fayetteville Tech Community College. HSC is part of a larger statewide effort called Career and College Promise. The program started in 2012, but organizers say it’s more urgent than ever for low-income students to take advantage of this opportunity.<\/p>\n “We’re doing everything that we can to reach those underserved populations so that they can have this opportunity to excel and to achieve,” said Taneka Williams, the career pathways coordinator of Cumberland County Schools.<\/p>\n Participants have two options: high school students can start taking college classes while in high school to get a jump start on their college educations. Or they can start earning a professional accreditation that allows them to start working and earning money immediately after graduating the 12th grade.<\/p>\n