Parent students face challenges while attending LBCC

Students who are parents face additional challenges in college by learning how to balance family life and academics.

“I want to show my son no matter how late it is, it’s never too late to start it. Just never give up,” said Amanda Turcott. Turcott’s best friend, Lonnie Eyler, later added, “Higher education leads to better opportunities, a better career, and better pay.”

Turcott, a single parent of her five-year old son Tyson, is attending her second year at LBCC to complete her bachelor degree in Culinary Arts. Lonnie Eyler, who has a four-year old daughter Nakia, is also a sophomore at LBCC pursuing her bachelor degree in business.

Unlike other traditional students, Turcott and Eyler face more challenges when going to college. Working hard for them not only means being a good student and doing homework, it also means finding balance between school and family.

Between school schedules, family, childcare, after-school activities, group meetings, and on campus involvements, Turcott and Eyler are trying their best to balance them all and avoid being another stereotype of how student-parents can achieve an education.

At first, Turcott came back to school and finished her GED. This brought her potential to the surface and she realized how much more she could do to provide her son a better life. Eyler also started attending college with the same motivation. She simply wants the best for her daughter no matter what it takes.

However, to commute between parenting and attending college at the same time is not an easy job, and many parents are facing similar situations here at LBCC.

Time management and financial conditions are the two major challenges. Parents often work part-time. This leaves them no time to attend school activities and group projects. In many cases, parents sometimes have to sacrifice spending time with families to make more money.

“It’s easily $2000 every month,” Turcott said. Eyler agreed. Both Turcott and Eyler gave up on working during school time, and rely on financial aid because they don’t want to eliminate the time to spend with their children.

“Finding your own personal time to do homework is my biggest challenge," Turcott said.

 She always makes sure that she is on top of school work and not neglecting her son. He is at an age where he needs her undivided attention, said Turcott.

“I work in summers to support our living expenses," she said.

Their children Tyson and Nakia are preschool age and enrolled in Kidoco Head Start. This is a free on-campus education program to assist families on early child development. It is divided into an "early" Head Start program and the Head Start program.

Head Start has four classrooms on the LBCC Albany campus. With the “open door” policy, parents can check on their kids anytime. The building also opens an area for parents to do homework and relax from the day. The early Head Start family advocate serves 10 families at her home. In total, LBCC's Head Start program serves 72 children.

“We are federally and state funded, so we prioritize LBCC students, but also reach out to the community,” said Christina Nese, the site supervisor at Kidco Head Start. “We use creative curriculum, and really focus on education development. We also serve kids with special needs.” 

“Being a parent student is hard, but just remember to never be afraid to ask for help,” Turcott said. “The staff and secretary here are wonderful.”

Turcott and Eyler are thankful for Kidco Head Start.

However, Turcott is worried about what's next, “Tyson is five right now, and he will start kindergarten next fall. I will have to work harder or maybe get a part-time job to pay for child day care, so I can still be a full-time student here and complete my degree as soon as possible.”

At a glance:
Kidco Head Start
Phone: 541- 451-1581
Website: www.kidcoheadstart.org
E-mail: cnese@kidcoheadstart.org
Address: Periwinkle Center, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany, OR 97321