Video and story by Paige Hornor
Student parenting: More than just studying
For Naomi Clark and Meghan McClellan, their day starts as early as 6 a.m. in order for them to prepare not only themselves, but also their children for the day. Clark and McClellan are both student parents at MU.
They depend on the Student Parent Center at MU to take care of their children while they spend the day working on their doctoral degrees. Clark is in the process of earning a PhD in rhetoric and composition through the English department and McClellan has spent the past eight years working on her PhD in art history.
They both spend a lot of time studying, but their families are always what comes first.
“Before I had Maddox, I had a lot more time to do homework…I have to be a lot more structured and I don’t necessarily have social time or any other time except for him and studies,” McClellan said.
McClellan said one of her biggest challenges is time management and that she is constantly using her planner to stay organized.
“Having daycare services on campus, for us [student parents] is not just about enhancing our school experience, it’s about whether or not it’s even possible,” Clark said.
The Student Parent Center at MU offers childcare services for children six weeks to five years old. The price is adjusted according to the family’s income so that it is affordable for students. According to the Student Parent Center website, the facility serves as many as 80 families.
MU does not keep statistics of exactly how many students are parents at MU, but accordingto national statistics cited in Mizzou Weekly, 13 percent of undergraduate students are student parents. That would equate to about 4,395 student parents enrolled at MU.
The student parent organization MizFIT at MU provides informational sessions, social opportunities and support for student parents.
MizFIT President Emilia Mense said approximately 200 student parents from MU are involved in the organization.
Clark said she utilizes the MizFIT’s “cub hub” program, which allows her to study and work on homework while her daughter, Liberty, plays in a nearby play space.
Clark and McClellan are two of the many student parents at MU who are constantly trying to find the balance between their family and studies. Thanks to various resources for student parents at MU, they can focus on both the student and parenting aspects of their lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment