Getting through college and surviving the daily workload is hard enough, and it’s even more difficult if you have to deal with added family responsibilities such as looking after your kid or your elderly parents. There are lots of student parents who have succeeded juggling their college education and family responsibilities. If you have kids or are tasked with looking after elderly parents, below are some tips you can follow to help you get through college without neglecting your family responsibilities:
Plan out the schedule of your classes and exams. If necessary, take fewer units
It’s standard procedure for professors to provide a course syllabus, which outlines exam dates and other deadlines. Plan your school activities ahead, and anticipate the days when you’d have to give more attention to school work. For days when you have exams or reports due, contract the services of a baby sitter or care giver early on to look after your kids or elderly parents. If advanced planning and time management still don’t cut it, you can always lessen your load by taking fewer units per semester. Getting a college degree is not a race or competition. If taking fewer units will make it easier for you to juggle studies and family life, then by all means do it. What matters is you get that degree while working at a pace you’re comfortable with.
Know when to get help; whether from friends, a support group, or from the university
Most universities offer financial aid to students who serve as bread winners or guardians of children and elderly parents. But beyond financial aid, there are very few, if at all, state-institutionalized programs designed to cater to the needs of student parents. There are very few universities that offer day care and babysitting services. The good news though is that more and more universities and colleges are forming organizations and sororities that aim to gather student mothers and provide a support group for them.
There are existing programs in colleges that help student parents; you just have to do your research and seek them out. An effective way would be to ask the student counselling office if they offer such programs. If they don’t offer babysitting or day care services, consult them on other ways through which they may be able to help you deal with the double responsibility of looking after your family and juggling college work.
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