In The FADER’s new America Issue, the First Lady of the United States makes a case for higher education, and explains how she’s making federal student aid easier to apply for.

“As you check out The FADER, reading the stories and looking at photographs of the latest trendsetters, you might be inspired to dream about a career in music or entertainment yourself,” writes Michelle Obama, encouraging young readers of the tastemaking music and culture magazine to make the commitment to attend college. “Complete your education so you can chase after every last one of your dreams and ambitions and make us — and more importantly, yourself — proud,” she says.

Obama shares how getting a degree with the help of financial aid changed her life, and explains how she’s making FAFSA, the application for federal student aid, easier to fill out. “Getting financial aid and going to college opened a lifetime’s worth of doors for me, my husband, and millions of people just like us all across the country. That’s why we care so much about ensuring that you take the same journey, and we will be helping you and rooting for you every step of the way.”

The America Issue of The FADER uses the stories of regular and exceptional Americans to examine what kind of life can be made in America today.

Check out the full op-ed by clicking here, and grab The FADER’S issue hits newsstands in October 4th.