#SoCanU: Why moms CAN rock college

Featured below is an interview with another #SoCanU project rockstar. Be inspired. :) 

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends? Spend time with my kids and husband, read, sing, nap!

Favorite food/meal? Like a true California girl, In-N-Out

What made you decide to choose community college? It was affordable, nearby, and was recommended by several people.

Were there any obstacles in your life prior to attending community college that you had to overcome?  I was born to a single mother with a disability, and I too suffer from social and generalized anxiety disorder. I also became a mother of three living under the poverty line. 

I lacked confidence so I never really thought I was smart enough to be successful in college. 

However through my own experience with social and generalized anxiety I was able to connect to other people with similar issues. I think it has made me more aware of the importance of respect for all types of people. I am still below the poverty line, but now I see a light at the end of the tunnel -- and I have found happiness where I am in life.

What obstacles did you overcome in community college and/or in your transfer university to achieve your degree?

I lacked confidence and feared failure when at my community college. However, it was through failure that I grew and gained confidence with the help of my mentor. 

When I transferred, the transition was a bit difficult because I was a junior and yet I was brand new. I soon realized that being outside my comfort zone was exactly where I needed to be and made friends with other students like myself as well as traditional students.

What is one of the most important things that helped you succeed in community college and beyond? My mentor, Dr. McCormick. Without her I wouldn't be where I am today both academically and personally.

What are you most excited about for your future right now? Graduating next spring! But before that, writing my book College Success for Moms and being able to reach out and help moms who want to succeed in college.

What is the best piece of advice you can give our readers who are currently attending community college? Don't give up, don't back down in the face of failure and adversity, rise above your circumstances and beat the odds set against you!

Dianna graduated from Mt. San Antonio College in 2013 and currently attends Cal State Fullerton where she'll graduate with a bachelor's in English. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Pearson Students blog and the founder and writer of CollegeSuccessforMoms.com. 

Join the #SoCanU movement here!

From Teen Mom to NASA Employee (don't read this if you like to make excuses)

I had to share the interview I did with Heather Thomas for the Pearson Students blog. 

Every time I talk to her I'm reminded that anytime I think I'm busy or that life is hard I just need to remember moms. 

Moms who go to college and work amaze me. I was a nanny, and it was HARD work....and I know it was NOTHING compared to being a full-time mom. When I took care of kids I was getting paid and it was the only thing I had to do - it never eluded me that moms have to take care of kids and contend with that thing we call life.

Heather has done this beautifully, and her story and successes are a great reminder that we really can do anything - our only limitations are often the ones we set on ourselves.

Here's Heather's story:

When Heather Thomas was 11 years old she got the news that her mother had been killed by a drunk driver. After her mother’s death she lived with various family members, and the lack of stability and motherly guidance led to her getting pregnant at age 15.

Heather decided to give her baby up for adoption. But immediately after her daughter was born, she changed her mind: “I was in tears saying ‘I wanna keep my baby!’” she shares, laughing at the memory.

At 16 years old Heather decided to take responsibility for her child and her life. She dropped out of high school, got her first apartment, and started working.

At age 18, she was given custody of her younger brother, who was 13 years old at the time; she cared for him and her ailing grandmother.

Heather got married and her husband had a son; she worked multiple full time jobs to provide for her growing family.

Her brother got into trouble, and started having children with different women. Heather and her husband decided to care for the first two children to keep them from going into foster care.... Read the rest of the story on the P.S. Blog.

What we can all learn from adult students

It is Study Tipping Tuesday and since most of you are in the process of revving up for your final exams, I figured today would be a good opportunity to help you discover some motivation sitting right next to you in your classes. Because sometimes studying is as simple as being motivated to work hard.

And nothing says hard work like the adult students in your classes.

I’ll use the term “adult student” loosely (as most of you I consider adults), but for the sake of this post, I'm talking about the students who are returning to college after a few years (e.g. not coming straight out of high school).

Fifteen percent of community college students are 40 years old or older. The average age of community college students fluctuates between 28 and 29 years old.

Going back to school in a later stage of life requires a lot out of hard work, sacrifice, and diligence. I am constantly inspired by these people, and I think you will be too.

I have met returning students who are single-mothers, parents, full-time employees, laid-off workers, those contemplating career changes, those ready to try college again after struggling the first time, and military veterans who have served in combat.

I have seen friends attend a club meeting between classes and then have to run home to pick up their children from school.

I have met students who work from daybreak to noon at their jobs before heading to school, then going back home to a family at night. 

And the thing is – you have seen them too. Every day at your college. And those stories aren’t exceptions or special cases – they are everyday stories.

And they are stories we can all learn from. Some of the many things adult students can teach us include:

• The pursuit of goal doesn’t have a time limit. Completion is what matters. Life will twist and turn ahead of your future. The reality is that anything we think is worth pursuing will require us to keep pursuing it, regardless of the timing in our lives. Today is always a good time to start, regardless of your age or circumstance.

• As busy as your life might feel, the student who works, has a family, and still finds time to get involved on their campus – well…they are busier. And that should light a fire inside of you.

• Social bravery is one of the most admirable characteristics to possess. I think it is tough to put yourself out there – in any situation. And when I see adult students step up and get involved in their college I am reminded of their social bravery. It will serve them well in life, and it will serve you well too. 

• Connecting with people from all walks of life is one of the most powerful things in life. Post-college life requires us to interact with people of all ages. And successful people are often those who are able to positively respect, interact with, and support people no matter what their age or background.

So when you're feeling stressed during exam time and don't know how you are going to manage it all, remember that there is often someone who is doing more. There is often someone you can learn from to help you get through the difficult times. And sometimes, you will be that someone for somebody else.

So appreciate this stage of life, no matter what your age, and continue to push forward to reach your educational goals, remembering that your hard work and dedication will pay off.