Single Parent Students
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Single Parent Students
May 2002
HI,
I am a thirty year old single mother. I have been going to a
local community college in the bay area now for five years. I
never finished high school so I went to get my high school
diploma. And went on to prepare for a four year university and
my major. During all this time I have been receiving
governmental aid. I wanted to work, but with my child and full-
time college I just did not know how. I have now, been accepted
to a good university and I am preparing to go. I hope that
financial aid will help to get me through the one-two years that
I need to be there. Just to think about carrying out a part-time
job while studying and taking care of a seven year old child
scares me. I want so much to get good grades so that I can go
on to graduate school-while working -it has been my life-long
dream. I just can't wait to get out of school so that I can do
the normal parenting and enjoy my child without the stress of
homework and finals. Does anyone have any experience with
single-parenting while being a full-time student. It seems so
hard for me. I don't have any family here and rely on friends
very little. I detest my financial situation and hate myself
all the time for it. Yet, I want to be the best mother that I
can for my only child. I don't want to compromise my child's
already hard(only gets to see father about once year)life.
Anyone have any suggestions or advice. I am desperately in need
of some. Thanks.
anonymous
Just your commitment alone to both your future and your
child has me convinced you can do anything you want. I
have seen many women, parenting mostly alone, go beyond
even their expectations with their focused will to make their
life better than ever. What achievers! An inspiration to all. I
have found for myself that utilizing the hours of 10pm to 1am
to be my surest formula for success. My child took a lot of
energy for years to go to sleep, and it often wasn't until
9:30-10:00 pm. That's when Peets coffee and I reunited
again that day. Also, I have done different creative trades
with other Moms so that we could mutually help each other
out in a crunch. I also explained to my child what I was doing
so that she seemed to absorb a little bit of the team spirit of
her mother getting through school. I just submitted my MA's
thesis last week so all I can say is YOU CAN DO IT. Good
luck!
proudly anonymous
hi--i don't know if you live in university of california
housing, but in the uc village there are some resources for
single parents, particularly a group run by dianne rush woods
called the single parent group, that might be helpful to you. i
think you should call her even if you DON'T live in the village--
she may know of other resources, or the group may be open to you
if you're a ucb student. if you do go to cal, and you don't
live in the village, you might consider it--there are many other
supports here, including several single parents! give dianne a
call, and good luck.
jessica
I was a single parent - no relatives in the area - and a full
time student for 4 years with my daugther being between the age
of 4 and 8. Can't say it was easy, but it was doable since I
could work only on a very reduced schedule (4-8 hours a week)
because of a scholarship. I used all kind of financial &
community support I could find: WIC program, free school meal
for my girl, scholarships at the Y for daycare, university
housing which at that time was rather affordable. Many times I
just brought my girl to the computer lab or to class - yes, I
had a 7 year old listening to a 1 1/2 hour lecture on
database structure, the fact that she loves to read so I could
just give her a book helped a lot. Good luck!
Giulia
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