By Elaine Bonilla/south news editor
Simply attending class and working on homework would be an ideal day. Instead, my responsibilities consist of being a single mother raising a 3-year-old, working two part-time jobs and being a full-time student.
It is more than I bargained for, and just making it to the end of the day can sometimes be the most difficult part. Feeling like no one else has any idea of my difficulties doesn’t help.
Learning how to cope with stressors can help make life easier. For instance, being organized helps make juggling everything easier. Devoting specific times for school, work and family gives an idea of how to divide the days or weeks.
Devoting certain days and hours to specific subjects can keep homework and studying on track. Times and work hours can often be adjusted to decrease or added to fit studying time. This will lead to a more organized work schedule that won’t negatively affect grades.
If work hours are cut, how will school get paid for? Loans, grants and scholarships are basically determined by how well a student is doing.
Scholarships typically require students to take a certain number of hours and make a certain grade point average. This comes back to how much time is being spent on school and studying.
If finances are still an issue, it may be time to cut back on some luxuries. Instead of cable, switch to Netflix. Instead of going to the movies, rent one. Instead of going out to eat with friends, have a dinner party.
My schedule is school and work 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. I devote after 5 p.m. and weekends to my daughter and plan what we’re going to do.
When the best option seems like giving up, take a second to look at the situation and think. Is everything being done to make things easier? Rather than making rash decisions such as quitting school or dropping a class, take it day by day, sleep on your decision and reassess it the next day. It might just be an overreaction from a stressful day. Everyone needs to make time for themselves, so go for a walk or have a friend or family member watch the kids for a while, turn off the phone and stay home for a day.
Once it’s time to graduate, the hardships will be well worth it.
