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Parents struggle to find balance
BY ELIZABETH DILONE
Parents in the struggle for success
Being a full student and a parent has inherent challenges, mainly balancing school and family life.
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Sandra Serrano with her two children. |
For Athena Perroy, single mom, balancing those responsibilities are hard. She tries to balance personal, work, and school obligations as much as possible. “When one mixes everything around it can be a problem.”
Perroy, 27, life has changed unexpectedly since she had her daughter. While in high school, she discovered that she was pregnant, but she found herself a single parent after her daughter’s father refused to accept responsibility for his off-spring. Undeterred Perroy decided she would pursue an education and with help from her mom found a high school with a day care program. “Finishing high school and have a college career were my goals,” she said.
Now Perroy is attending UDC pursuing a degree in Nursing. She lost her job in January 2009, but that has not deterred her. “Losing my job was not easy, but my determination helped me to overcome. I try my best at all times because I want both of us to be happy.”
Her 9-year-old daughter is at school during the day, allowing Perroy to take classes. In her free time she looks for a job to help with the family’s expenses. “My daughter is my responsibility and I have to give her everything she needs,” she explained.act NSIPP at www.green.dc.gov and the Agricultural Experiment Station Community Outreach and Extension Services at 202.274.7115
Meanwhile, Dioscorydes Encarnacion, 31, who lives in Brookland, decided that the best thing for him and his family was for him to finish his master degree in Spanish as a Second Language online. “Work, go to school, and have a baby at the same time, was too difficult for me to handle. “I grew up only with my mom and my sister, my mom never finish her career, that’s why with the technology on my hands I can do it now.”
In addition, Encarnacion, who works as a Spanish teacher, said that he wanted to enjoy his 2-year-old son as much as he could because no one knows what the future holds. “Do what you love to do and love what you do, because what you sacrifice today can be your prize in the future, but try to find time for your children will be worth forever,” Encarnacion said.
For Sandra Serrano, 42, who lives in Capitol Hill, believes that balancing her life out is the best way to achieve success. As a wife and mom of a 9-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter, Serrano knows what she wants and what she would like for her family.
Serrano works as a Customer Support Specialist. She is also pursuing a degree in Religion taking classes in different universities such as UDC, which helps her handle her busy schedule. Serrano’s children go to school until six p.m. allowing her some time for study. “I always try not to work at home, and I study always after hours my kids go to sleep, or divide home chores with school homework.”
Despite the challenge Serrano said she is determined to succeed. “It’s hard to pursue a career while you work and at the same time try to be the best mom and wife possible. But determination will power and keeping your eye on the go,” she said.
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