Welcome And Focus On Student Moms

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Welcome back to Make the Leap, the Ross College podcast, where we talk about real stories behind student success. I'm your host, Andy Kaphart, along with Kristen Beale. Today we're focusing on a group of students to inspire us daily. Women who are pursuing their education while raising children. Over one in five college students right now is also apparent that's millions of moms bouncing diapers, textbooks, and dreams all at once.

SPEAKER_04 0:35

So if you're listening and you're thinking, don't be, this episode is for you. You're not alone and you deserve support, not shame. The things that helped you succeed, childcare, flexibility, and peer connection, aren't luxuries. These are light lines.

SPEAKER_00 0:56

Today we're joined by three incredible guests who embody that spirit. Kita, who's an MA grad from Taylor, who's now completing her externship in our online My Boa program. Clara Bell, who is a recent pharmacy technician graduate, and Caroline, who is currently completing her externship in the pharmacy technician program. Welcome to the show, everybody.

SPEAKER_03 1:19

Hello. Thank you. Hey.

Kita On Purpose And Perseverance

SPEAKER_00 1:23

Uh Keto, let's start with you. You've completed one program and you're working on another while you're raising your kids. What does a typical day look like while you're trying to juggle all that?

SPEAKER_03 1:35

Um, it's hectic. It's hard, but they're the motivation. And they're the reason I'm doing everything I'm doing. They're my purpose for wanting to do better for myself and the That's terrific news.

SPEAKER_04 1:51

In fact, I I feel like such an inspiration for other people is your example of your perseverance as you kind of juggle through all of that. And I understood that your kids are the biggest motivation that you've had. Would you agree? They they are. They really are.

SPEAKER_03 2:09

What kind of example are you do you think that you're setting for them? Um, I'm showing them that no matter what you go through in life, no matter what what ailment you have, you can push through it as long as you hold your head up high and shoulders back, and you just gotta keep going, you gotta put your best foot forward.

SPEAKER_00 2:28

Clarabelle, uh, congratulations on graduating recently.

SPEAKER_01 2:32

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 2:33

What helped you really push through the final parts of your program and get to that graduation?

SPEAKER_01 2:40

Honestly, completing, like finishing, just finishing it. Um I started school uh when I was, I think I just turned 25, I think two weeks after. I just woke up one day, just wanted to go back and actually do something with my life, and then I think I had like two months left of completing my class course. And I ended up being pregnant, which was very, very hard in the beginning. And then throughout the whole pregnancy, did end up being a high-risk pregnancy at that. So it took me a longer time than expected to finish. And then I once I got to my externship, um, I think I had like two weeks left until I finished all my hours, and I had to pause everything again because I was about to give birth, and then I went back as soon as I was able to, and I had a week left of hours to finish and completed that within a week. I went every day from nine to five. Oh wow. And just I started working two weeks after that. Wow.

Caroline’s Externship And Time Crunch

SPEAKER_04 4:05

Caroline, you're in externship mode right now that Claire Bell just discussed. What has been the hardest part for you, and how do you stay grounded?

SPEAKER_02 4:17

So going into my externship, I was actually doing Monday, Tuesday of regular work. I cut Wednesday out of my regular job so I could do my externship. Um, and then I was doing Thursday, Friday regular work hours, and then I decided to make the switch because monetarily it was kind of hard losing that that fifth day. So now I'm doing my externship Fridays, 5 to 10, Saturday, 10 to 6:30, and then Sunday 10 to 6.30 while working my 40-hour a week job. So it's just been a lot and just trying to manage time and my hours. So right now I have Monday through Thursday in the evenings to pretty much be home and get done what I have to get done. And so just trying to manage those, just trying to manage the household and groceries and cooking and just kind of all that stuff. So sure.

SPEAKER_04 5:20

I hear you really saying, Caroline, that time there's just hardly not enough there, right? Um, trying to manage all that.

SPEAKER_02 5:29

Mm-hmm. Yeah, I definitely need an extra day to just get all the all that extra stuff done. I just need a day where I can just get the mom and wife things done that I need to do, you know. So yeah.

SPEAKER_04 5:45

And I know it's just temporary. How long is your externship total? Is it like five weeks or six weeks?

SPEAKER_02 5:51

Yeah, it's supposed to be five weeks. Um, but I ended up starting like a week late. Um just because with Walgreens, you have to actually be hired in as an employee. So um I wasn't able to start when I was supposed to, um, which is fine. I'm just hoping to be done before the end of the year. I'm like, I'll get done when I get done. It's gonna happen when it's meant to happen. I'm not gonna force it. It's just whenever, you know, God's plan, not mine. So I'm just I'm just here for the ride.

SPEAKER_04 6:26

Um I love it, though. You're I'm looking at it like an investment. So every extrumship hour, you're investing now in your future, right?

Externship As Investment And Growth

SPEAKER_02 6:36

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Every hour I'm there, I'm learning something different, learning more, becoming more comfortable. Um, it's definitely my favorite thing that I'm doing right now. I'm excited to go and do it and I want to learn as much as possible. So it's it's exciting to see the things that I've been learning online be put into um into into practice. So that's that's the most exciting thing.

SPEAKER_04 7:04

Right. Well, let's talk about now for all of you what helps you keep going, you know, the lifelines that allow you to persist on. Um Claribel, do you want to talk about what kind of support made the biggest difference for you, whether that's at home or studying partners or things like that?

Lifelines: Family And School Support

SPEAKER_01 7:26

Well, I have a really big support system, including my advisors. Uh my partner, um he's really helped me through it out because he I was working when I first started school, but after I got pregnant, I had to stop. So he just supported me through the whole thing. And once I completed school and gave birth, my mom stepped up and helping me watch him while I go to work.

SPEAKER_04 7:59

Love it.

SPEAKER_01 8:01

So I without them, I honestly don't know how how I would do it. Um, it's really hard, especially like right now he's teething, so there's days where I'll get a phone call or a text message like he doesn't stop crying. Um, I don't know what to do, I need help, and I'm just at work, kind of like a mom guilt, because I want to be home with him, taking care of him, but I can't because in this economy it's so hard. Yeah, it's so expensive. Wasn't even in my plan, honestly, to have a kid right now, but I sucked it up and I chose the good part.

SPEAKER_04 8:48

Yeah. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:51

Um, yeah. And uh not only that, my f like uh my sisters also attended Ross right after high school. She had went to Ross and became a medical assistant. And she also just had a baby too, before so uh she was like really my inspiration too on just going and trying to figure something out for myself.

unknown 9:18

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:19

So yeah, I say without them and my like them, because they're like my very big backhand supportive family. I I don't know where I would be. I'd probably still be working in a warehouse hurting my back.

SPEAKER_04 9:34

Yeah. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:37

Uh Kita, we've heard some from some other students in recent episodes about getting tapped into that Ross support network and being on the work with their instructors and their advisors. Is that something that you've been able to rely on during your time through this?

Night Study Routines And Flexibility

SPEAKER_03 9:55

My b well I'm just saying that the people at Ross, they they are what they stand for. What they advertise, it's it's true. It's it's one thing at Ross. Um, my husband advisor, she's amazing. The people they're they're amazing. Um, my instructor, oh my goodness, my instructor is the they're very hands-on. And if they feel like one on one time, they will give it to me. And I was one of those students that I'm I'm a visual learner, you know what I'm saying? And if you need that one-on-one time, it's okay. You don't have to feel ashamed for needing that because not everybody learns the same, you know what I'm saying? And it's okay to say you need help. And so many people feel like they can't ask for help because somebody's gonna look at them differently, they're gonna stare at them differently, or look at or or or categorize them in a some type of way. When I I don't feel like that's fair, but Ross won't do that. Everybody there is literally family. You need to work with your classmates, they're gonna some of them even work together in groups, and they actually encourage you to work in groups.

SPEAKER_04 11:12

Oh that's amazing. Now, Caroline, you had mentioned about this balance and um about doing it on your time, and when the time is right, you're just gonna do the best that you can. What kind of resources or routines help you stay organized?

Kids Noticing Sacrifice And Motivation

SPEAKER_02 11:33

So I do all of my schoolwork and things like that after I get my kids put to bed. So it's all done between the hours of 10 and 1 a.m. whenever I find the time. Um that's kind of been when I've always done it, is in the evenings after so that way I'm able to prioritize and focus on the kids. And then once the kids are down and in bed, I can prioritize and focus on my schooling. Um, and just trying to that way I have quiet time because it's not easy to do. I have four kids, so I've and they're all between the ages of nine and 14. So it's super fun and crazy and chaotic and never ending. So I'm like, I need time after everyone goes to bed to just focus and the house is quiet and I can get my stuff done. That's yeah. And I know that my instructors, my all of these people have been really great about being understanding. They've been really, really wonderful about um giving me extra time or, you know, hey, how are you doing? Like I've really struggled the whole time trying to balance everything. It's been really, really hard. So um they've been really awesome with being um very supportive, very, very supportive.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

I feel like you're all talking about sort of what we always hear that parents need when they're students. They have to work on, you know, these skills of being able to maneuver their time flexibly and understanding, and also, you know, tapping into whatever community of support you have. Right. That you know, it it takes more than one person to really get through. Uh all right, let's talk about uh some of the impact to your children. We talked a little bit about how you can sort of teach them and inspire them with your own journey. Um, Kita, what do your kids think or do they say anything about the fact that you're going to school?

Practical Advice And Time Management

SPEAKER_03 13:50

So my daughter, she came to me and she was like, Mama, I'm gonna be like you when I grow older. She wants to be in the medical field, she wants to, you know, deal with the blood and gore. She actually told me, she said, Mama, I want to be a forensic scientist. Like she that's that's she's she's gonna be a forensic scientist. And I'm like, you can do it. You know, I encourage her to do whatever it is that her heart desires. I I never want her to feel like she can't do whatever it is that she decides to do. As her mother, I'm gonna motivate her and hold her hand the whole way, let her know no matter the challenges you face, you got it. That hurdle might fall down, but guess what? You gotta plenty more to climb. You're gonna get up, you're gonna dish yourself off, and you're gonna try it again. My son, he is he's he's very reserved, so he doesn't ask too much about it. Um so I'm not really sure what he wants to do or how he feels about me going to school, because he doesn't talk much about it. So um, but I think once he gets older and he gets to the point where he wants to do something, I do think he'll you know what I'm saying, he'll come to me about it.

SPEAKER_04 15:05

Right. Oh, I love it. I love it. Um, Caroline, tell me a little bit about your children. What have they noticed about you on this journey, or what have they said that's really stuck with you?

SPEAKER_02 15:20

Um, so I missed Halloween because I was doing externship and they were all pretty sad. It's the first kind of holiday that I missed, and so fun, you know. Um, and they were like, you're not gonna be there. And um so I was working and my boyfriend was kind of talked, just giving them a little pep talk. You know, she's being very selfless by doing this, you know, this is for the better of everyone in the long run. You know, he's being really supportive and just trying to coach the kids up a little bit. And then when I get home, my nine-year-old hugged me and he's like, uh, you're the best mom. I just wish you didn't work so many jobs. And I'm like, I know it's just for the long run, it's just for right now. So that just keeps me going because I know that when I'm done with this and I have that real career job, I will be able to have more opportunities. It just keeps me going with it. You know, it just absolutely is my motivation. The kids see me being 35, going back to school, doing it. They're like, you can do it, and you're working, and you're so busy, and you know, and so they see me doing it. They they are my biggest supporters for sure.

SPEAKER_04 16:46

That is so awesome. And really, the kids aren't looking for perfection here, they're just watching your persistence, and that's what really kind of leads the legacy and has an impact on their lives as well. Wouldn't you agree?

SPEAKER_02 17:01

Yeah, absolutely.

Mom Guilt, Resilience, And Next Steps

SPEAKER_03 17:03

Yeah, can I say something?

SPEAKER_02 17:06

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 17:08

Everybody on here, I feel like we all inspire each other. It's not it's not just us inspiring our kids because sometimes our student advisors and our our advisors and our teachers they take from us as well as we take from them. We're all learning something at some point. Sometimes the things we know, sometimes our student advisors don't know. Sometimes the things we know are our teachers don't know. You know what I'm saying? So I feel like it's all a teaching moment for everybody when it comes to teaching.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

Uh alright, as we reach sort of the end of the discussion here, um, I'd love it if each of you do you have any other advice for maybe another student who's just starting out, who's in a similar position to you, or even just students who aren't, but maybe you're facing, you know, difficulty managing their time and dealing with whatever's going on in their life.

SPEAKER_03 18:06

Well, what I would say about time management, you you have to be able to you have to categorize everything and put a certain amount of time apart for a certain amount of things. If you know that you want to do your your schoolwork, you say, Okay, I'm gonna put maybe two hours and a half into schoolwork. And then you say, Okay, I did my schoolwork for those two hours, I'm gonna take a brain break because it's important that you take that brain break. You take that brain break and then you go back to it. If you feel like you're comfortable with going back to it, okay, you say, you know what, I got a meeting at this time. You know you got that meeting, have everything you need for that meeting, so you're not looking for it. Already have it organized. How about um Caroline?

SPEAKER_04 18:51

What do you, what kind of advice do you have about for another mom who's gonna try to juggle it all and go back to school?

SPEAKER_02 19:00

I would just say be very, very honest with each person that you come in contact with at the school, whether it's whether it's your advisor or your teacher or whoever it is. Um, just be honest with them about how you're feeling, what's going on, where your headspace is at. Um, because then it's gonna let them in and let them know where you stand and kind of they can't see, you know, you're not with them in person in class. So it's when you're doing it online, it's very easy to think, oh, this is just another person behind a screen. You know, it's just another person doing their schoolwork. But these people have jobs and things happening in their lives. They have mental health, they have kids, they have all kinds of factors going on in their lives. So um it's definitely it's it's it's a way to connect, it's a way to feel supported, it's a way to um, you know, when I was, I wanted to quit. I was talking to Abby and Carol, and I was like, I seriously want to postpone. I just want to quit. I just need some time. Like, I mean, how can how do I pause my schooling? And they're like, no, you can do it. I have faith in you. You can do it. I promise you can do it. This is gonna be so good for you. And that put that helped me push through. And Abby has been one of those people who has just really, really pushed me through. She's been, she's texting me all the time. How are you feeling? What's going on? Where's your headspace? So um really just leaning and just being honest, being self-aware. I need to take time, being self-aware. You know, I this is not working. You know, it's really hard to be like, okay, I I signed up to do externship on these days, but but it's not working for my family. I need to change it. You know, plans change and things happen, and it's just about prioritizing, figuring out, okay, what's gonna work out best. And if that doesn't work out, there's a million other plans that you can you they'll find a way to make it work. So it's not a big deal. You know, you're gonna get there when you're gonna get there. So yeah, just being out being open and honest with everybody, even your externship um person, like just being very open and honest with with everyone.

SPEAKER_04 21:22

So Claire Bell, you had mentioned earlier about mom guilt. Do you want to talk a little bit about that for advice for someone who's a mom?

SPEAKER_01 21:33

Basically, my advice would be not to give up, even though like you feel the guilt inside, because I'm still like going to postpartum as well. So it's really extra hard for me just because I'm not experiencing a lot of first things for him. Um, and what really motivates me to just keep going is just for myself. Like, yeah, it's for my son, but honestly, for me too. Like, I just want something that I have that I had achieved myself as well. Because in high school, too, um, I did drop out in sophomore year, and I went back in my junior year, but I was technically still a sophomore. So I had to catch play catch up on that too, and then I was behind still in senior year, and eventually I graduated on time with my class. So thinking about that and going back to school, it really motivates me because I know I can push myself to finish it.

SPEAKER_04 22:40

Plus, I love that you're doing something for your family, your partner, your baby, and you.

SPEAKER_01 22:46

Yeah. So I I just say this like you're gonna feel some type of shame. And honestly, I feel like some jobs too out there, they're gonna make you feel that guilt too, because they're gonna guilt you into thinking like putting you your baby first is not really the way you're supposed to put your job first. But there's some bosses out there who understand and they won't guilt trip you. And if they do, you just really have to be tough-skinned and just make sure like you know what you're doing it for. Right.

SPEAKER_04 23:22

Yeah, like Keita said that same thing. Like, what's your plan? You gotta know what your plan is and what you're gonna, what your end goal is, and to help you get there.

SPEAKER_01 23:32

Yeah, that's honestly how I push myself through it too. It's just I just know like at the end, I'm gonna have something there for myself. Like, I can go anywhere basically with my certification, my license. I can if I really want to, I can go back to school too, and get my associates as well. But I honestly don't feel like I'm in that position right now.

Closing Encouragement To Student Mothers

SPEAKER_04 24:00

You just need one more success, and then one more success, and then your confidence grows, and then the world's your oyster, pretty much, right? Yes. That's exactly the message we hoped to share today. To every student mother listening, you can do this. You're not behind, you're building something remarkable for yourself and your children. Your persistence today is the story they will tell tomorrow. Kita, Corabell, and Caroline, thank you for sharing your honesty, your heart, and to everyone listening. Keep learning, keep striving, and as always, keep making the leap.

SPEAKER_02 24:48

Thank you very much for having us. Bye-bye.