Adrienne Cooper

Kevonne Bennett is a success story. She was able to complete her coursework and graduate Penn State Abington in 2020 while raising her young daughter. Despite the additional pressure of being a parent, when we spoke, Bennett told me that “being a parent is one of [her] biggest motivations in school.”

She is not alone. I am also a student at Penn State Abington, and I am also raising a child while pursuing academic success. And there are others.

We don’t know quite how many others, as it is difficult to access data on how many Penn State Students are primary caregivers to young children, but if you are a student at Abington, it’s a safe bet that some of your classmates are parents.

Bennett’s experience sounded similar to my own. Being a parent while going to school is difficult. Doing it alone means that help is needed. In Spring 2021, I am now a sophomore. The Penn State Abington campus. On a typical day, before the pandemic struck, I found myself first getting my son ready in the morning and dropping him off at preschool, which takes about a half hour without commute time. Travel typically takes an hour or so on the bus each way, before I even think about getting myself to school. Then travel to and from campus for me takes about an hour. Depending on when my classes end, if I don’t want to leave class early, I need to make arrangements for his care after preschool. I am responsible for all of this scheduling outside of my working hours before I’m able to study or schedule classes.

It’s not all about struggle. It’s also about the future. As Bennett said in our interview, “Any time I questioned whether or not I should continue, I remembered that I am not only doing this for myself, but to give my child a better future.” It’s about the lengths you go to achieve better in life.

Though there isn’t readily available data about how many students at Penn State are primary caregivers, there are some resources. Penn State Abington does have a student parent child care subsidy program for student parents. This is funded by Penn State Initiated Fee and Federal Grants. More information about this program is located here: http://Student Parent Child Care Subsidy Program 

There is also a scholarship for adult students called the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation Scholarship for Mature Students. The requirements for the scholarship consist of being full-time or part-time student pursing first time degree bachelor’s degree, being 24 or older, a veteran or active- duty member of the U.S. military, or more than four year out of school. Applicants will also need a G.P.A minimum 2.5, 60 or more completed credits, and financial need as a demonstrated in the FASFA. As of now the Application Deadline is September 15, 2021. More information can be found at Scholarships for Students at Abington

Caring for a child can be a motivator for success. Bennett told me, “I have been focused on my studies because I have someone depending on me. I cared less about other activities and more about getting good grades.”

The isolation of the pandemic, where we’re supposed to be keeping a six-foot distance and wearing a mask everywhere we go, has not helped. Even though we are at home, it hasn’t gotten easier.

The crazy thing is this experience is not all about the difficulties or all the odds against success for anyone else in this boat. For many of us, as Bennett said, “It’s about, getting it done. Having the determination, and keeping the ambition. For us and our children for better futures.”