We overlook the fact that we are globally competitive and aspirations are necessary. Friedman expresses this reality well: “If you put your ear to the flat Earth, you can hear the competition overseas” (Friedman p. 357). By making this comment, Friedman reminds us of the importance of not losing our ambitions because in other countries they work hard and the competition is fierce. I agree that Americans should be concerned and should strive for higher education, but then the question arises: can eLearning close this gap? The education portal points out that “students who struggle to force themselves to complete unpleasant homework or assignments may lack the motivation to complete an online educational program. There is no one to hold them accountable for deadlines or lessons, and students may find it more difficult to get work done in this environment” (Education Portal). In other words, motivation can be lost if there is no one physically around to prevent you from falling behind. This theory is correct because studies have shown that students were more likely to fail or withdraw from online courses than in-person courses (Jenkins). The documentary Discounted Dreams claims that community colleges attract low-income, academically underprepared students. A Washington State Community Study