Married Students

By Kim Davis

As if going to school and working isn't enough? On top of that,many Liberty students have the added responsibilitiesthatcome with being married.

Kentand TaraGregory weremarried the summer of 1991. According to Kent,thisnew lifestylehas brought added changes "It's beena lot morestressful," hesaid "It's been excitingand fun, butthere's alot ofstress I always feel like Ishould be doing something - paying the bills,doing homework, washing dishes -something."

Junior business management major Jenny Warren married August 22, 1991, the weekend before school started. Since then,her schedule has demanded almost every minute of her time. "The hardest part is having enough time todo everything,"Jenny said."I haveto straightenthehouse, fix meals, do homework, and I have the added pressure ofworking a job IfI want to do something else, Ireallyhave to plan ahead and schedule it."

In addition totaking 17hours, working 25 hours a week in the missions office and being a housewife, Jennyand herhusband Mike,who graduated from LU in1991, are alsodorm parents

Although this work may seem insurmountable at times, Jenny is very positiveabout theoverall experience. "It's difficult, but Idon't regretit atall," Jenny said. "Mike has been very supportive, so that's helpful."

Melody Walker,senior journalism major,can also identify with thislifestyle. Melody has been married forone year. Inaddition toherdutiesathome,she is taking 16 credit hours and working 28 hours a week.

She is alsoan officer intheIABC (InternationalAssociationof BusinessCommunicators)cluband a member oftheyearbookstaff.

The responsibilitiesof being married may also conflictwithMelody's class schedule "Sometimes Imiss classbecauseourschedulesconflict and we only have one car," she said. "The professors arereallyunderstanding about thingslike that."

"Finding quality time to be together is the most difficultpartaboutbeingamarried student," Melody said

This, however,is notan obstacleforMelody. "Everythingis giveand take," shesaid.Thesacrificeswill be worth it inthelong runbecause we will both have our degrees. If it's worth having,you find a way of doing it."

Although settling into a new routine isone ofthe biggestadjustments, couples may still feel the added pressures even aftera few yearsofmarriage.

Will and Holly Honeycutt have been married for almostfive years Holly is anLU graduate and works full-timeinLU'sAdmissions Office Willis finishing his lastyearin seminaryand is working full-timeas an LU security guard.

Between takingclassesduringthe day and working the graveyard shift at night, Will and Holly have limited timetogether "Holly is aconstantfriendthat Ican talkto, relyon and have funwith,"Willsaid. "I regret that I can'tspend a whole lotmore time with her."

TheHoneycuttsare, however,optimisticabouttheir temporary situation "We realizethat we are making a sacrifice, butwhen you make asacrifice, it's always for something better in return," Will said. "When I lookback later, it will be worth it. I'm going tosee its value as a whole and how the Lord gave me the strength todo it."