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My first attempts at pursuing higher education ended in disappointment. Balancing a full-time job while caring for my young son and managing schoolwork proved overwhelmingly challenging, resulting in two premature exits from college.
However, on my third attempt, the situation changed dramatically. This time, I was fueled by a strong determination—not only to achieve my personal goals but also to silence skepticism surrounding my capabilities.
This past spring marked a significant milestone in my educational journey as I graduated with an associate degree in criminal justice from Howard Community College. This institution is particularly attuned to the needs of student parents like me.
I now stand as evidence that with the right motivation and support, student parents can overcome considerable obstacles to earn a college diploma, despite the challenges stacked against them.
Approximately 20% of college students in the United States are also responsible for caring for a dependent child. The majority of these individuals are women over 30, often managing parenting responsibilities without a partner. Alarmingly, a third of these student parents are Black, and one in five are Latino. Notably, many student parents choose to attend community colleges, where educational opportunities can be more accessible. Unfortunately, factors like a robust job market coupled with escalating costs for tuition, housing, and childcare have forced numerous prospective students to defer their academic ambitions.
The challenges faced by student parents are daunting; statistics reveal that less than 40% manage to graduate within six years.
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After graduating high school in 2019, I anticipated an uncomplicated transition into college life. I enrolled that fall but soon withdrew following my pregnancy. I returned to classes in 2020, yet juggling a newborn with online learning during the upheaval of the pandemic was too difficult.
The educational environment I encountered did not align with my realities as a student balancing parental responsibilities. Having previously dropped out, the option to do so again felt all too easy.
Withdrawing from college for the second time significantly dented my self-esteem and belief in my abilities.
Growing up with a single mother who never attended college, I witnessed firsthand her struggle in low-wage jobs, unable to escape the cycle of poverty.
I was resolute in breaking that cycle for myself and ensuring my son had every opportunity to thrive.
My goal was to be the success story, showing everyone who doubted me that I could achieve this for both myself and my son.
In the fall of 2022, I re-enrolled, this time at Howard Community College (HCC). The experience proved to be transformative, as HCC recognized the unique challenges student parents face and had structured programs to support individuals like me.
Through scholarships and financial aid, I could cover my tuition and fees for two years. Additionally, I received an emergency grant during a difficult financial patch. HCC offered the flexibility to take nearly all my courses online in the evenings, accommodating my job and parenting duties, unlike my previous experience where I had to drop classes due to childcare issues.
Furthermore, HCC’s Career Links program, dedicated to aiding single parents, provided invaluable academic and career counseling, helping me choose my major and keeping me focused on graduation.
This overwhelming support was pivotal in restoring my confidence. Last fall, I achieved the dean’s list status, culminating in my degree this spring.
Related: How parents of young kids make it through college
Looking ahead, I have ambitious plans. While maintaining my full-time job, I commenced university classes this summer with the aim of securing a bachelor’s degree. My son, now four, will soon start preschool.
Ultimately, I aspire to establish a nonprofit organization focused on aiding other student parents, particularly single parents and families with incarcerated individuals. My son’s father has been absent due to incarceration for most of his life, igniting my passion to create a support system that helps those facing similar hurdles.
Single parents require substantial assistance, and I want to offer the resources that were once lacking in my own journey.
Pursuing a college education is inherently challenging, amplified for those of us also balancing parenthood and employment. However, when educational institutions actively work to dismantle financial barriers and accommodate student parents, they not only reinforce their commitment to current students but also pave the way for future generations.
Abby Bediako graduated from Howard Community College in 2024 and is currently attending the University of Maryland Global Campus. Abby is featured in Raising Up, a documentary film series aimed at elevating the lived experiences of student parents in higher education.
This story about student parents was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for our higher education newsletter. Listen to our higher education podcast.
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