Challenges of being a Student Parent Emarree Williams CRE Nov

Introduction Going back to school can be a challenging task for anyone. Going back to school while being a parent can be an even more challenging task. In this presentation we will refer to students with children as student-parents. One of the biggest challenges to being a student- parent: Time effectiveness- Student parents often have to work/Class/time with kids to deal with.

Personal Story Both of my older sisters have attended college. Their cases are special because they did this while being single mothers. Both of them stopped attending college for several years. My oldest sister never finished her degree for various reasons but a contributing factors were her four kids. At the time she was in college she worked and went to school. I remember her issues with affording the financial cost of childcare. She eventually got overwhelmed with her schedule and although she passed all her courses she decided to work and raise her children full time. She now has two adult children and two girls, 7 an 5. She is a working mother and time is not something that was plentiful when my nieces were growing up.

Personal Story (continued) My second oldest sister did go back to school when her children were older. She recently graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Business. The reason why I choose this issue was because I have seen some of the struggles my sisters went through trying to finish their education while raising children. I have seen the lack of resources available for student parents affect them greatly. My sister even attended school one class at a time to make sure all her and her children's needs were met.

Cartoon Analysis

Cartoon Analysis Continued The cartoon is poking fun at the fact that many non traditional students like students with children put of college for years until their children are older. By the time many student parents go back to school they must relearn much of the basic material to be on an even playing field. The argument is denotative because so many student parents who put off college do struggle to catch up with traditional students that recently graduated from high school. Cartoon can be found at: &tbm=isch&tbnid=hb3Xu3Y7TGppVM:&imgrefurl= ent.asp&docid=V21vxQQWu0WG- M&imgurl= =400&ei=vhjdTrDhD8ikiQLN0e36CQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1111&vpy=142&dur=527&hovh=227&hovw =222&tx=143&ty=121&sig= &page=1&tbnh=137&tbnw=134&start=0&ndsp=19&v ed=1t:429,r:5,s:0

Photograph Analysis Picture can be found at: US:official&biw=1366&bih=638&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=xD1irjLshOYRmM:&imgrefurl= m/ /features/sc-fam-0524-college-parent-friendly _1_child-care-unassisted-tomorrows-women-with-children- program&docid=vlfHtZBPs7FbHM&imgurl= 05/ jpg&w=600&h=400&ei=2kfZToI- tNaIAtCnxNYJ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=180&vpy=165&dur=689&hovh=183&hovw=274&tx=123&ty=66&sig= &page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=179&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Photograph Analysis Photograph from: fam-0524-college-parent-friendly _1_child-care- unassisted-tomorrows-women-with-children-program The article related to this photo is about the challenges of finding a college that fits your needs as a student-parent. In the photo the woman is holding her son up in the air. This position is similar to what athletes do after receiving a trophy. The photo suggests a victory over the challenges the student face to get to graduation the argument is connotative because it invokes an emotional response about the woman raising her child and being a student. The position she is holding the child in makes you "feel" her triumph.

Statistics Financial challenges- -It cost $11,000 a year to raise a child. -It cost 250,00 to raise a child for 18 years the-united-states.htm

Statistics Child Care- Child care in the U.S. is about $11,666 per year. childcare_ bc

Statistics - Community colleges offer more childcare than four year colleges -More Colleges are focusing on helping single mothers with childcare and financial aid - Off campus support systems like family are also important for student parent success. - %3D&tabid=77

What resources are available to help student parents financially? Financial assistance to help pay for childcare Examples: Many states have a Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) AZ childcare Assistance Must meet requirements to get assistance from D.E.S.

Speech This is an speech of a College students attending college. The message is connotative because the student is expressing her personal experience about her challenges but also are giving factual information about what resources are available to them as student-parents. She is also using dramatic language and tones during her speech to convey how her typical day goes. The speech can be found at:

Editorial This editorial is about the lack of support for student- parents at University of Washington. It is also a rebuttal to an argument written that stated childcare is not the responsibility of the University. The writer uses two examples of student- parents to set her case. In the editorial she also mentions state funding for low income households that are provided even though there is a budget cut. The Argument is Connotative and a Claim of Value: If the government can provide child care services then the University should be doing the same. Editorial can be found at:

Video A single mother gives her personal story about being a colllege student with a child. Her story and perspective are personal. She lays out what steps t may help another Student-parent in dealing with classes and professors. Her arguments are persuasive. She is trying to convince the audience that there are added issues to being a student parent.

What resources are available for student parents on and off campus? -Universities and colleges often have childcare available to students. -Student Parent Journal Has multiple worksheets to help student parents stay on track -NYU offers a babysitting registry, lactating room, and a Students with children Club The registry offer students a way to babysit for each other. There are similar programs like the one at NYU at many campuses.

Conclusion While there are many resources to help student- parents most are stressed financially or the wait for those resources are so long they are not reasonable for students getting associates. Resources at community colleges seem to be more readily available than at Universities. After doing this project I have concluded that there needs to be more resources available for student parents. While doing this project it was difficult to find information on student-parents, suggesting that the subject is not being paid much attention.

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