Pejman Mokhtari
Mothers are seen as women who might take care of the family, do the laundry, cook dinner, going to work after dropping the children off at school and picking them up after school if they miss the school bus.
They are rarely imagined as students going to school, however, many of them attend classes at Pierce College everyday.
The Child Development Center, or CDC, has been assisting the student mothers with their free child care.
“It is (also) close by,” said Marisabell Alvarado, 19.
Alvarado, sociology major, is taking four classes and has a 3-year-old daughter, Katie Sanchez. Alvarado is a single mother whose husband is “not somebody she can depend on.”
“I deal with homework everyday and her (Katie’s) needs as well,” said Alvarado.
Alvarado had to drop some of her classes because, “There was no way to be in class on time and pick (Katie) up on time.”
Sometimes, student mothers have to make sacrifices towards their education to be convenient for their child.
Single mother and part-time student Elisabeth Bower, 33, kinesiology major, faces the same issue of raising Kaley Bower, 6, and Phoebe Bower, 1.
The girls’ father has little involvement by having time for them “every other weekend,” said Bower.
Bower explained taking care of her two daughters and taking classes is “not (going) very well.”
However, Bower receives assistance from her mother, while living with her and “welfare helps,” said Bower.
Bower returns to school at the age of 33 so that she will not be limited by retail management jobs.
“Retail means nights and holidays and that does not work because I have kids,” she said.
Some student mothers have their husband to help.
Jessica Martinez, 20, a child development major and mother of Eliza Perez, 3, has been married for two years. Martinez is taking five classes and one service learning class.
Martinez finished high school and attended California State University Los Angeles, but left and attended Pierce because it was “too pricy.”
Money can also be a factor of not receiving the education when the mother has to buy food, clothes, toys, doctor visits, etc.
Martinez works full time and plans on attending California State University Northridge in Spring ’09.
Eventually children grow up and become young adults, so student mothers do not have the tendency to worry about their child and class work at the same time.
Larisa Shinkeyeva, 43, with a 4.0 GPA, is taking two classes with her daughter, Anya Shinkeyeva, 21.
“I think she doesn’t like it, but I’m okay,” said Larisa Shinkeyeva. The mother has underestimated her daughter because Anya Shinkeyeva believes the relationship with her mother “is like a friendship.”
“(The students) ask if we are sisters,” said Anya Shinkeyeva, “We say we are related but don’t specify how.”
Having a mother in class may seem unusual and awkward for some students, but this mother daughter relationship in class has its ups and downs.
“(When in class) my mom tells me not to text message,” said Anya Shinkeyeva and that Larisa Shinkeyeva “asks (her daughter) how to translate.”
Larisa Shinkeyeva has a 5-year-old son and the husband/father is “supportive and paying for the education.”
Larisa Shinkeyeva may have a good relationship with her daughter but Anya Shinkeyeva mentioned she would “kill herself if I had to drive with my mom to school everyday.”
When it comes down to homework, “We have different study methods,” said Anya Shinkeyeva, “I’m a procrastinator.”
“I study ahead of time,” said Larisa Shinkeyeva.
While her mother has two A’s, Anya Shinkeyeva, had no comment on her grades.
“I think if my mother is going to another country (America) to get a second degree, it’s admirable in my eyes, and if anything, it’s more helpful,” said Anya as she expresses her feelings towards her mother.
Mother and daughter relationships can be rough especially when they are together at home and school, however, Larisa Shinkeyeva and Anya Shinkeyeva somehow pull it off.
In the end, the student mother, Larisa Shinkeyeva, not only has her plate full with family, but getting her degree with her daughter right next to her.
Student mothers are juggling the balance of class work and family, whether they are getting help from the CDC, all the student mothers set an example by staying in school and create a future they want for themselves and their family.
Full-time Pierce College Student Larisa Shinkeyeva (right), 43, with her daughter Anya Shinkeyeva (left), 21, also a full-time Pierce student, study together after class outside the Freudian Sip. ()
Marisabell Alvarado, 19, sociology major, spends quality time with daughter Katie Sanchez, 3, at the Pierce College Child Developement Center playground. ()