It’s no secret that many college students spend their time multitasking between work, school and a social life. But, some have thrown another component into the mix.
According to the American Council on Education, in 2005 10 percent of undergraduates under 25 were parents or married – compared to 7.6 percent in 1993.
For more statistics on college parents, click here.
For more statistics on college parents, click here.
As a known commuter school, USF has its fair share of non-traditional students, several of whom are already learning how to balance raising a family with other responsibilities.
Justin Rivera, a senior majoring in history, is a father of three: 3-year-old Justin, two-year-old Christian and one-year-old Isabella. Not one of these was planned.
A study conducted by the American Pregnancy Association indicates that 47 percent of pregnancies are accidental.
Rivera and his girlfriend had their first unplanned child together their freshman year.
“We were surprised because she was on birth control,” Rivera said.
When Rivera found out he was going to be a father he decided to work in a labor pool for a summer. He would show up to a construction site and hope to get hired for a day doing odd jobs at the site. But the low pay and bleak prospects led him to go back to school that fall.
Now in his sixth year of college, Rivera admits that it has been a struggle to balance parenthood and schoolwork.
“It doesn’t matter that you’re at school, they still need a parent,” Rivera said.
Rivera and his girlfriend have spent most of their college years scheduling classes and work around each other, ensuring that one was always available for the children.
“I feel like I’m 30,” Rivera said. “I got robbed of being young.”
Now that Rivera’s girlfriend has graduated, things have become a bit easier. She stays at home watching the kids while Rivera attends school and work.
Rivera has undoubtedly experienced financial struggles. To provide for his family, he works for “The Oracle” and carries equipment for Lightning City Gymnastics and Cheerleading.
However, Rivera depends heavily on EBT cards, which are similar to food stamps, and loans. Currently, Rivera is $60-$70 thousand in debt.
But, he remains optimistic. He sees greater career potential with a college degree.
“I want to be a high school history teacher,” said Rivera.
In 2004 the Census Bureau released a study that compared salaries of those with and without college degrees. On average, those with bachelor degrees earned $51,206 a year while those with high school degrees earned $27, 925 a year. Furthermore, those with an advanced degree earned $74,602.
Shana Johnson, a mother and fifth year senior majoring in broadcast news, knows the difference a college education makes.
“I have always been pretty studious, so I’ve always had a career goal where a college degree is very important,” Johnson said.
Johnson had her son, Preston, three and a half years ago during her sophomore year.
Johnson originally attended FIU, but transferred to USF after becoming pregnant to be near her family and the baby’s father, who she plans to marry.
Johnson’s days begin at 7 a.m. and most of her time is devoted to school and work. Her broadcast news classes demand a lot of her time out of class.
“I haven’t gotten much sleep this semester,” she said.
For income, Johnson works as a Lightning Girl, which takes up any free time she might have had. However, Johnson finds herself feeling guilty after her long days. Often times, family members watch Preston because of her demanding schedule.
“I’m away a lot; like too much,” she said.
But, Johnson tries to include Preston in the activities that pull her away from home.
“I usually bring him to (photo) shoots or to class or the Lightning events, if they’re kid-friendly,” Johnson said.
The USF Family Center and the USF Preschool for Creative Learning are both childcare options for University students, faculty and staff who don’t have someone to watch their child.
But many, like Johnson and Rivera, rely on family to help. For Lydia Harvey, a senior majoring in mass communications, her parents and her boyfriend are the main reasons she’s able to get through her day.
Click here to hear how Lydia and Shana balance school and parenting.
Click here to hear how Lydia and Shana balance school and parenting.
Harvey lives with her two children, 2-year-old Cyril and 2-month-old Presley, and her boyfriend in Ybor city where they rent a house. While her boyfriend works as a tattoo artist, Harvey is able to take online classes from home and only has to visit USF on Thursdays for Photojournalism, when he or her mother watch the kids.
But even with only one class on campus, Harvey, who had Presley the first week of school, has still had to miss class.
“It was kinda crazy,” she said, about missing her only on campus class when she had Presley. “They gave us the dates that they were going to hand out our cameras (in photojournalism) and I was like, ‘Oh, OK, cool, if the baby doesn’t come at that day everything will be fine.’ And of course that was the day she came.”
For Harvey, the most difficult part of raising children while in school is trying find time to study. Luckily, she said she is usually able to stay at her mom’s, who watches the kids while she finishes work. But when it comes to out-of-class photo assignments it’s not as easy.
“Basically what you’re supposed to do (in Photojournalism) is keep your camera with you at all times and shoot your assignments as you see them happening,” Harvey said. “But since I have two kids … I have my camera in the car with me but it’s not like I can jump out of the car and photograph a newsworthy thing that’s happening and just leave my kids in the car.”
But, despite the hard work, Harvey said the decision to go back to school was an easy one.
“It was really having kids that made me go back to school,” she said. “They’re the reason and it wasn’t a hard decision at all.”
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