Located in: Opinions
Posted on: January 30th, 2011 No Comments

Balancing education and parenthood

As I go into the final stretch of my college career, I realize that my goal of earning a diploma is going to happen. Returning to school was tough for me because I was older, married and my first child was less than a year old.

I am, more often than not, the oldest student in the class. I admit that it feels awkward to be the only student in class who doesn’t know what’s happening on campus. Having two kids under the age of four does not allow much time for extracurricular activities. Living in a dorm is not an option at this point in my life.

To make time for my family and do well in school, I have had to make tough choices. As each semester progressed, more often than I like to admit, spending time with my friends has been almost non-existence. But fortunately my friends are supportive. I could not have returned to school without them.

Noo matter how much a particular professor of mine tries to be convince me, I do not want to stay in college any longer than necessary. Getting a second degree is not that appealing as it once was when I first started. I just want to graduate.

I am unavoidably referred to and known as the ‘mom’ in most of my classes. I am fine with that, ‘Mom’ is a beautiful word. It is what I am. Giving birth to my daughter in the middle of a semester and then bringing her to class as part of a class project two months later made it easy to make the class remember me.

There is always this tug-of-war going on, trying to give everything of importance in my life 100 percent, but that, at this point in my life, it just isn’t going to happen.

If I am spending time with my kids, there is a chapter that isn’t being read. If I am working on a research project, I have a child who is sulking in the other room. But that is how things have played out. My college memories may not be as traditional as others, but I have shown my children and proven to myself that hard work and not giving up does pay off. I might have taken the scenic route a few too many times, but I am glad my destination is just around the corner.

vgross@mesastate.edu

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