Meeting President and First Lady was 'amazing' for Mahala Greer

Mahala Greer, Paonia High School graduate and soon to be graduate this May from the University of Colorado Denver, is a real "Friend of Barack."

Throughout her college career, Greer has worked 20 hours a week and even left university studies for a while to work full-time to pay for college.

Even so, she will leave college with a debt of $35,000 in loans. The lion's share of the debt is with low interest federal loans, but she is wanting to enter into an education career which is not always high paying.

While working on campus as a peer educator in the Office of Community Standards and Wellness, she and others in the office were asked if they wanted to volunteer when President Barack Obama spoke at the University of Colorado Denver in October 2011.

"Everyone in the office was very excited to do so," Greer said. "And then, they were also looking for a student to do the introduction for President Obama. I submitted a blurb about myself talking about how I was interested in going into education."

The White House selected Greer because she was a student with loan debt, a topic President Obama would speak about at the Auraria Event Center.

She met the President back in October, shaking his hand and talking to him for about a minute before introducing the President to the audience. Afterwards, she had her picture taken with him.

Little did she know then that she would once again meet the President this January in Washington D.C. for the State of the Union address. She received a phone call on Jan. 19 from the Department of Education and the White House. She was told that her story was exactly what a lot of students are facing — higher education with a higher and higher price tag. "They asked me if I would be their guest to hear the President's State of the Union address on Jan. 24." Her travel and accommodations were included. She was excited and accepted the invitation.

"I've been in charge of all my educational expenses," Greer said. "I've been accepted in the Teach for America Program and long term would like to continue in the education field. I'm going into a career where I won't be guaranteed to make a lot of money, but I'd rather go into a career I'm more passionate about than something where I could make more money. Unfortunately, the tuition is just rising in this country, and more and more students are having to take out loans and work while they are in school and it can be pretty challenging."

One of the pieces of legislation proposed by President Obama is helping to make loan repayment easier for students. "I know it's my debt and I assume responsibility for it. The proposed presidential plan would make it easier to make payments without it hurting the college graduate personally. It would be paying back a certain percentage of your gross income [as the] maximum for your monthly loan payment. It is really helpful to have an idea when you are on a budget to know exactly what you would be paying," Greer said.

Greer flew into Washington D.C. Tuesday, Jan. 24, taking the Metro to her hotel because she really likes public transportation. She then went to the White House for a tour. Greer was able to bring a guest, a good friend at American University. Greer met First Lady Michelle Obama and then was escorted to the Capital building where she watched the speech.

During the speech Greer sat two rows behind Mrs. Obama and next to the mayor of San Antonio and a man from Florida. Her guest and the other guests watched the speech from the White House Theater.

Her impression of being in Washington, meeting the First Lady and hearing the President deliver his State of the Union at the Capital was "an overwhelming and honoring experience. It was really amazing to be in the Capital watching the speech. The energy in the room was very interesting. There was a lot of people very into the speech and very excited about a lot of what the President was saying. There was a portion that was not as enthusiastic."

About President and Mrs. Obama, Greer said, "They were just amazingly nice and gracious people." Those invited by the White House went in one by one to have their picture taken with President Obama. "He was asking everyone if they had fun that evening."

She continued, "They seem to genuinely care and are genuinely nice, and interested in us. It was an honor to be there and that was just so amazing to me."

About the President's State of the Union address, Greer said, "I thought it was a really great speech and a lot of what he was saying is very hopeful for the future of our country, I feel."