Students with families face unique challenges, motivations chasing degrees

Every student on campus faces unique and sometimes unexpected challenges throughout their academic career. For the parents of young children, the highs and lows of that juggling act can push their student experience to a whole new level. 

Imagine taking a full class load, working full-time, and raising children. Several Purdue University Fort Wayne students recently shared how they are finding the balance.

TANAZIA COLLINS

After deciding to return to school for the first time in nine years, Tanazia Collins started her pursuit of a college degree during the fall semester. She was a freshman at age 26, majoring in general studies, taking 12 credit hours while also working as a concierge at a senior living facility. Along with boyfriend Justin Scott, who works at Dana, they are raising sons Malakai, 3, and Myles, 1.

“It’s been hard,” Collins said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school, and I still don’t. The main reason why I didn’t want to go after high school is my mom wanted me to go somewhere and study for at least a semester on campus.”

But Collins didn’t want that, saying her mother had always been sick and she didn’t want to leave her. When her mom passed away a few years ago, Collins said she might as well cross college off her bucket list.

“I sense the inspiration,” Scott said. “I just have to stay in my lane and help when I can as much as I can. Amazingly, she can co-parent and still be a full-time student. Lots of people say they can’t do this or make that happen because they are parents, but she’s making it all work.”

Sometimes, Collins can do her homework at work.

“It’s harder than I thought,” she said. “Without having that village to help with your kids, it’s harder because all that weight is on you.”

ZACH BARNARD

Despite working 42 hours a week at Steel Dynamics, having a wife and an 18-month-old son, Zach Barnard is on pace to graduate in spring 2024 with a degree in mechanical engineering technology. Barnard fully admits his wife Molly talked him into it when they were dating. His boss then built a flexible schedule to help.

Zach, 36, works four days a week, Monday through Thursday, usually arriving by 5:30 a.m. so he can take classes in the evenings and keep his weekends free for homework. He usually gets by on six hours of sleep. A former PFW student, Molly also recently started her own mobile veterinary business

“Having a supportive wife has made all the difference,” he said. “I couldn’t do it without her support.”

After graduating from high school, Zach started working long hours building automated conveyer belts in distribution centers. The shifts could be grueling, but the money was fantastic. He took a hiatus in 2013 to walk the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. 

“Overcoming a big challenge like that changes your perspective and the way you look at yourself and what you think you can achieve,” he said. “Since then, I’ve been looking for challenges and going to school was one of those things that had been on my mind. It took a few years to finally get me to take that step.”

But having the maturity of life experiences also helped him as a student. 

“You have to manage your time well, and you can do a lot more than what you think you can do,” Zach said. “I’ve proved a lot of that to myself.”

HONEY FENDER

She already has a college degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude from Baruch College in New York City with a major in digital marketing. Honey Fender is now trying to earn a psychology degree while raising Lillian, 7, and Melody, 20 months, while going through a divorce.

“There was something I always wanted to do, which was study psychology,” she said.

As a veteran, she still has her GI Bill benefits. She attended school here in 2006 and 2007, majoring in music education. 

“I knew that PFW had a lot of research opportunities, and that’s what drew me back here,” she said. “I’d like to go for my PhD in the future, and I knew that research experience was pretty important to get into grad school.”

The hardest part, she said, is going easy on herself when she’s unable to match her previous academic accomplishments. It’s not that she’s lost interest or intellect, but she has other responsibilities. There’s also less help this time.

“Now, I either have to pay out of pocket for a babysitter, or I have to put up with the turmoil while I’m studying,” she said. “I often end up studying late at night when they are asleep. I’m also still adjusting to the new place we are staying. Anyone with a child under age 3 is just pulling their hair out half the time.”

When she’s been open about her struggles, the professors have been understanding, Fender said. There’s some flexibility because they understand what it’s like. Part of the reason she likes bringing her children to school is so they will have positive memories when it’s their turn to start college.

“I can’t perform the way I used to in all areas, but I’m still trying to move forward because psychology is something I love learning about,” Fender said. “I’m still learning and thinking and doing.”

ESTEFANY CATOTA

Estefany Catota met boyfriend Tye Slayback while working in a factory seven years ago. Now they have three children, and both are working full-time while she also studies early childhood development.

“The goal is to get her out of factory work,” Slayback said. “She’s already had trouble with her shoulder, and she’s had knee surgery. She doesn’t have the physical frame for that kind of work, so the family game plan is to get her into a better work environment, and then I’m going to focus on furthering my career.

“I honestly don’t know how we make it work. We just do.”

With tremendous support from her parents, Catota is in her fourth year as a student, but she’s had to take classes sporadically, though never missing a semester. She thought about quitting when she was pregnant with their third child, but that semester produced her best grades. 

“As our family grew, it became about making something of myself to show them that even though it was hard, Mommy did it!” Catota said. “I hope someday I can be an inspiration to them to go after what they want. My parents, sisters, boyfriend, and my kids have encouraged me to keep going even when sometimes I think I can't.  

“It’s very hard. I think the hardest part is just trying to balance everything, family, school. I have to be present as a mother and as a girlfriend, but I always have to be a student with homework, tests, and work. It’s a very difficult thing to balance.”

The only way she can thrive is by constant planning, Catota said, along with help from Slaback. His pride in her gives her a needed boost sometimes.

It’s not about when she finishes, but that she finishes.