Busy parents face challenges in higher education

KATHYA SAGREGO STAFF REPORTER

Returning to college after 10 years has not been easy. I am a stay at home mom to four young children. Deciding to return to finish my degree is something I had been wanting to do for quite some time. I am a communications major and will be transferring to Cal State San Bernardino this coming fall.

In 2011 I graduated from community college with an associates degree and transferred to Cal State Fullerton. I got married after my first semester and later became pregnant with my first child. I had to drop out from university in order to fulfill my new roles as a wife and as a mother.

I do not regret the decisions I made because I wanted to start a family, a big family.

Being a student at 33 was a little intimidating at first. Knowing

I would be taking classes with students significantly younger than me and returning to a college campus made me nervous.

During these past 10 years I was in a completely different environment surrounded by baby babble, diapers and Cocomelon.

The advancement of technology made it even more intimidating.

I went from a flash drive to now saving everything on a “Cloud.”

Having less time to keep up with my school work has allowed me to value the journey.

Luckily, I have my husband and parents that make up a full support system to count on. Everyone in my home sacrifices a little for me to help me be able to achieve this goal.

I do not take any of it for granted.

I have learned to juggle homeschooling my children while attending online and in-person college classes.

I have had to implement a daily routine in order to be able to keep up with my school as well as the craziness of chores it involves to have a home full of children.

Growing up I had a strong example of a woman: my mother.

She taught me that an education comes with great sacrifice. She was one from 10 siblings to earn a degree and graduated as a teacher in Mexico. This is why one of my greatest motivations is my eightyear-old daughter. I don’t just want to teach her to be determined but I want to show her that women have options.

I often speak to her about how women have fought throughout history for us to have an abundance of opportunities today. I want to be an example for my three sons as well. I want them to witness their mother pursuing her own dreams.

I always knew I wanted to have a family of my own but I never imagined that I would also be pursuing a goal that seemed impossible at the time. Getting accepted to Cal State San Bernardino made all of this a reality and I look forward to that family picture where I’m wearing a cap and gown surrounded by my children, who are my motivation.