Two students share their paths to success
By Mary Wilson, Opinions Editor
The idea of the traditional college student is changing. Instead of 18-year-olds straight out of high school who go to classes full time, more and more college students are going back to school years after graduating high school, when they may have children and full time jobs of their own.
There are certain challenges all college students face: exams, group projects and long hours in the library. However, students who are parents face unique challenges.
“It’s a lot more responsibility on the adult level,” said Meramec student Katie Frapolli. “[There are] things that are out of your control, because.. being a mom comes first,” Frapolli said.
Meramec student and parent Jaide Conley agrees.
“…You have to plan ahead more [as a student parent],” said Conley. “Not even just what time you have class, but what time you have homework… [I have to] plan more in advance than I used to.”
In addition to planning, both Frapolli and Conley spoke of determination and not letting hurdles stop her success, two qualities she uses to keep up with her schoolwork and raise her child, things others might think weren’t possible.
“You can do anything you put your mind to,” Frapolli said. “There are a lot of things people can look at as a limitation, like ADHD, being older, having children… nothing can really stand in your way. Put your mind to it, you can do anything you want to do.”
That also includes prioritizing time to complete course assignments, said Conley.
“I went to college before I was a parent and after becoming a parent,” Conley said. “Before–it was a lot easier to do homework as needed. [I could] go straight from school to work, or [from] work to school.”
Conley has developed a schedule to help her balance schoolwork and her home life.
“Now I stay home with the girls, [and I have] class on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” said Conley.
The balancing act is worth it in the end, said Frapolli, a paralegal studies student.
“It’s important to show my daughter that going to college is important. It’s my duty to show her through actions, [to] show her, not just tell her,” said Frapolli.
