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00:00:14.320Welcome back to Make the Leap, the Ross College podcast, where we talk about real stories behind student success.
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00:00:17.600I'm your host, Andy Kaphart, along with Kristen Beale.
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00:00:21.519Today we're focusing on a group of students to inspire us daily.
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00:00:25.199Women who are pursuing their education while raising children.
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00:00:34.560Over one in five college students right now is also apparent that's millions of moms bouncing diapers, textbooks, and dreams all at once.
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00:00:41.280So if you're listening and you're thinking, don't be, this episode is for you.
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00:00:44.479You're not alone and you deserve support, not shame.
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00:00:52.960The things that helped you succeed, childcare, flexibility, and peer connection, aren't luxuries.
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00:00:54.960These are light lines.
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00:01:00.240Today we're joined by three incredible guests who embody that spirit.
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00:01:07.280Kita, who's an MA grad from Taylor, who's now completing her externship in our online My Boa program.
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00:01:17.120Clara Bell, who is a recent pharmacy technician graduate, and Caroline, who is currently completing her externship in the pharmacy technician program.
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00:01:19.040Welcome to the show, everybody.
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00:01:19.680Hello.
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00:01:20.879Thank you.
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00:01:21.840Hey.
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00:01:25.519Uh Keto, let's start with you.
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00:01:30.079You've completed one program and you're working on another while you're raising your kids.
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00:01:34.079What does a typical day look like while you're trying to juggle all that?
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00:01:36.719Um, it's hectic.
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00:01:40.319It's hard, but they're the motivation.
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00:01:43.040And they're the reason I'm doing everything I'm doing.
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00:01:51.280They're my purpose for wanting to do better for myself and the That's terrific news.
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00:01:59.439In fact, I I feel like such an inspiration for other people is your example of your perseverance as you kind of juggle through all of that.
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00:02:04.079And I understood that your kids are the biggest motivation that you've had.
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00:02:05.120Would you agree?
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00:02:06.400They they are.
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00:02:07.599They really are.
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00:02:13.280What kind of example are you do you think that you're setting for them?
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00:02:27.599Um, I'm showing them that no matter what you go through in life, no matter what what ailment you have, you can push through it as long as you hold your head up high and shoulders back, and you just gotta keep going, you gotta put your best foot forward.
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00:02:32.080Clarabelle, uh, congratulations on graduating recently.
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00:02:33.199Thank you.
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00:02:39.680What helped you really push through the final parts of your program and get to that graduation?
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00:02:44.800Honestly, completing, like finishing, just finishing it.
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00:02:54.960Um I started school uh when I was, I think I just turned 25, I think two weeks after.
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00:03:05.520I just woke up one day, just wanted to go back and actually do something with my life, and then I think I had like two months left of completing my class course.
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00:03:13.039And I ended up being pregnant, which was very, very hard in the beginning.
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00:03:19.120And then throughout the whole pregnancy, did end up being a high-risk pregnancy at that.
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00:03:24.319So it took me a longer time than expected to finish.
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00:03:51.439And then I once I got to my externship, um, I think I had like two weeks left until I finished all my hours, and I had to pause everything again because I was about to give birth, and then I went back as soon as I was able to, and I had a week left of hours to finish and completed that within a week.
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00:03:54.879I went every day from nine to five.
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00:03:56.319Oh wow.
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00:04:03.280And just I started working two weeks after that.
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00:04:04.400Wow.
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00:04:10.560Caroline, you're in externship mode right now that Claire Bell just discussed.
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00:04:15.759What has been the hardest part for you, and how do you stay grounded?
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00:04:26.879So going into my externship, I was actually doing Monday, Tuesday of regular work.
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00:04:31.680I cut Wednesday out of my regular job so I could do my externship.
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00:04:42.160Um, and then I was doing Thursday, Friday regular work hours, and then I decided to make the switch because monetarily it was kind of hard losing that that fifth day.
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00:04:55.360So now I'm doing my externship Fridays, 5 to 10, Saturday, 10 to
6:30, and then Sunday 10 to 6.30 while working my 40-hour a week job.
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00:05:02.000So it's just been a lot and just trying to manage time and my hours.
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00:05:09.120So right now I have Monday through Thursday in the evenings to pretty much be home and get done what I have to get done.
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00:05:17.600And so just trying to manage those, just trying to manage the household and groceries and cooking and just kind of all that stuff.
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00:05:19.600So sure.
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00:05:26.560I hear you really saying, Caroline, that time there's just hardly not enough there, right?
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00:05:28.879Um, trying to manage all that.
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00:05:29.680Mm-hmm.
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00:05:36.000Yeah, I definitely need an extra day to just get all the all that extra stuff done.
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00:05:42.560I just need a day where I can just get the mom and wife things done that I need to do, you know.
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00:05:44.959So yeah.
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00:05:47.040And I know it's just temporary.
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00:05:49.279How long is your externship total?
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00:05:51.360Is it like five weeks or six weeks?
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00:05:53.519Yeah, it's supposed to be five weeks.
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00:05:57.600Um, but I ended up starting like a week late.
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00:06:04.079Um just because with Walgreens, you have to actually be hired in as an employee.
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00:06:09.839So um I wasn't able to start when I was supposed to, um, which is fine.
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00:06:13.600I'm just hoping to be done before the end of the year.
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00:06:15.439I'm like, I'll get done when I get done.
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00:06:17.600It's gonna happen when it's meant to happen.
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00:06:19.439I'm not gonna force it.
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00:06:24.160It's just whenever, you know, God's plan, not mine.
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00:06:26.720So I'm just I'm just here for the ride.
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00:06:28.800Um I love it, though.
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00:06:30.879You're I'm looking at it like an investment.
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00:06:35.759So every extrumship hour, you're investing now in your future, right?
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00:06:37.279Yeah, absolutely.
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00:06:37.839Absolutely.
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00:06:43.279Every hour I'm there, I'm learning something different, learning more, becoming more comfortable.
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00:06:47.040Um, it's definitely my favorite thing that I'm doing right now.
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00:06:51.439I'm excited to go and do it and I want to learn as much as possible.
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00:07:00.560So it's it's exciting to see the things that I've been learning online be put into um into into practice.
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00:07:03.839So that's that's the most exciting thing.
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00:07:05.040Right.
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00:07:13.839Well, let's talk about now for all of you what helps you keep going, you know, the lifelines that allow you to persist on.
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00:07:25.199Um Claribel, do you want to talk about what kind of support made the biggest difference for you, whether that's at home or studying partners or things like that?
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00:07:31.279Well, I have a really big support system, including my advisors.
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00:07:45.920Uh my partner, um he's really helped me through it out because he I was working when I first started school, but after I got pregnant, I had to stop.
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00:07:48.879So he just supported me through the whole thing.
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00:07:59.040And once I completed school and gave birth, my mom stepped up and helping me watch him while I go to work.
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00:08:00.800Love it.
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00:08:07.199So I without them, I honestly don't know how how I would do it.
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00:08:18.319Um, it's really hard, especially like right now he's teething, so there's days where I'll get a phone call or a text message like he doesn't stop crying.
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00:08:32.639Um, I don't know what to do, I need help, and I'm just at work, kind of like a mom guilt, because I want to be home with him, taking care of him, but I can't because in this economy it's so hard.
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00:08:35.600Yeah, it's so expensive.
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00:08:46.480Wasn't even in my plan, honestly, to have a kid right now, but I sucked it up and I chose the good part.
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00:08:48.320Yeah.
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00:08:49.200Oh yeah.
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00:08:52.240Um, yeah.
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00:09:00.879And uh not only that, my f like uh my sisters also attended Ross right after high school.
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00:09:04.159She had went to Ross and became a medical assistant.
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00:09:17.440And she also just had a baby too, before so uh she was like really my inspiration too on just going and trying to figure something out for myself.
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00:09:18.960Oh yeah.
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00:09:28.879So yeah, I say without them and my like them, because they're like my very big backhand supportive family.
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00:09:30.480I I don't know where I would be.
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00:09:33.840I'd probably still be working in a warehouse hurting my back.
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00:09:34.960Yeah.
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00:09:36.320Oh yeah.
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00:09:50.399Uh Kita, we've heard some from some other students in recent episodes about getting tapped into that Ross support network and being on the work with their instructors and their advisors.
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00:09:54.559Is that something that you've been able to rely on during your time through this?
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00:10:03.440My b well I'm just saying that the people at Ross, they they are what they stand for.
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00:10:05.919What they advertise, it's it's true.
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00:10:08.399It's it's one thing at Ross.
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00:10:11.519Um, my husband advisor, she's amazing.
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00:10:14.639The people they're they're amazing.
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00:10:20.240Um, my instructor, oh my goodness, my instructor is the they're very hands-on.
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00:10:24.559And if they feel like one on one time, they will give it to me.
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00:10:30.240And I was one of those students that I'm I'm a visual learner, you know what I'm saying?
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00:10:32.799And if you need that one-on-one time, it's okay.
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00:10:38.159You don't have to feel ashamed for needing that because not everybody learns the same, you know what I'm saying?
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00:10:41.759And it's okay to say you need help.
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00:10:54.080And so many people feel like they can't ask for help because somebody's gonna look at them differently, they're gonna stare at them differently, or look at or or or categorize them in a some type of way.
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00:10:57.840When I I don't feel like that's fair, but Ross won't do that.
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00:10:59.919Everybody there is literally family.
00:11:00.240 -->
00:11:10.559You need to work with your classmates, they're gonna some of them even work together in groups, and they actually encourage you to work in groups.
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00:11:14.240Oh that's amazing.
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00:11:26.399Now, Caroline, you had mentioned about this balance and um about doing it on your time, and when the time is right, you're just gonna do the best that you can.
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00:11:31.440What kind of resources or routines help you stay organized?
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00:11:40.000So I do all of my schoolwork and things like that after I get my kids put to bed.
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00:11:44.240So it's all done between the hours of 10 and 1 a.m.
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00:11:46.159whenever I find the time.
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00:11:55.039Um that's kind of been when I've always done it, is in the evenings after so that way I'm able to prioritize and focus on the kids.
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00:12:00.320And then once the kids are down and in bed, I can prioritize and focus on my schooling.
00:12:00.559 -->
00:12:06.399Um, and just trying to that way I have quiet time because it's not easy to do.
00:12:06.559 -->
00:12:12.000I have four kids, so I've and they're all between the ages of nine and 14.
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00:12:18.320So it's super fun and crazy and chaotic and never ending.
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00:12:28.559So I'm like, I need time after everyone goes to bed to just focus and the house is quiet and I can get my stuff done.
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00:12:29.919That's yeah.
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00:12:40.240And I know that my instructors, my all of these people have been really great about being understanding.
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00:12:49.120They've been really, really wonderful about um giving me extra time or, you know, hey, how are you doing?
00:12:49.279 -->
00:12:52.639Like I've really struggled the whole time trying to balance everything.
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00:12:54.399It's been really, really hard.
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00:13:01.679So um they've been really awesome with being um very supportive, very, very supportive.
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00:13:12.240I feel like you're all talking about sort of what we always hear that parents need when they're students.
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00:13:23.200They have to work on, you know, these skills of being able to maneuver their time flexibly and understanding, and also, you know, tapping into whatever community of support you have.
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00:13:23.679Right.
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00:13:27.360That you know, it it takes more than one person to really get through.
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00:13:36.080Uh all right, let's talk about uh some of the impact to your children.
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00:13:41.679We talked a little bit about how you can sort of teach them and inspire them with your own journey.
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00:13:49.279Um, Kita, what do your kids think or do they say anything about the fact that you're going to school?
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00:13:55.519So my daughter, she came to me and she was like, Mama, I'm gonna be like you when I grow older.
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00:14:02.080She wants to be in the medical field, she wants to, you know, deal with the blood and gore.
00:14:02.480 -->
00:14:06.159She actually told me, she said, Mama, I want to be a forensic scientist.
00:14:06.320 -->
00:14:12.960Like she that's that's she's she's gonna be a forensic scientist.
00:14:13.120 -->
00:14:14.399And I'm like, you can do it.
00:14:14.559 -->
00:14:19.519You know, I encourage her to do whatever it is that her heart desires.
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00:14:24.080I I never want her to feel like she can't do whatever it is that she decides to do.
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00:14:33.519As her mother, I'm gonna motivate her and hold her hand the whole way, let her know no matter the challenges you face, you got it.
00:14:33.679 -->
00:14:35.440That hurdle might fall down, but guess what?
00:14:35.679 -->
00:14:37.200You gotta plenty more to climb.
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00:14:40.720You're gonna get up, you're gonna dish yourself off, and you're gonna try it again.
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00:14:47.519My son, he is he's he's very reserved, so he doesn't ask too much about it.
00:14:47.759 -->
00:14:56.000Um so I'm not really sure what he wants to do or how he feels about me going to school, because he doesn't talk much about it.
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00:15:05.120So um, but I think once he gets older and he gets to the point where he wants to do something, I do think he'll you know what I'm saying, he'll come to me about it.
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00:15:06.000Right.
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00:15:08.240Oh, I love it.
00:15:08.480 -->
00:15:09.360I love it.
00:15:09.679 -->
00:15:13.279Um, Caroline, tell me a little bit about your children.
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00:15:19.279What have they noticed about you on this journey, or what have they said that's really stuck with you?
00:15:20.960 -->
00:15:29.840Um, so I missed Halloween because I was doing externship and they were all pretty sad.
00:15:30.000 -->
00:15:34.720It's the first kind of holiday that I missed, and so fun, you know.
00:15:35.120 -->
00:15:38.240Um, and they were like, you're not gonna be there.
00:15:38.399 -->
00:15:47.759And um so I was working and my boyfriend was kind of talked, just giving them a little pep talk.
00:15:47.840 -->
00:15:54.559You know, she's being very selfless by doing this, you know, this is for the better of everyone in the long run.
00:15:54.720 -->
00:15:59.039You know, he's being really supportive and just trying to coach the kids up a little bit.
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00:16:05.679And then when I get home, my nine-year-old hugged me and he's like, uh, you're the best mom.
00:16:05.840 -->
00:16:08.159I just wish you didn't work so many jobs.
00:16:08.320 -->
00:16:13.039And I'm like, I know it's just for the long run, it's just for right now.
00:16:13.200 -->
00:16:23.679So that just keeps me going because I know that when I'm done with this and I have that real career job, I will be able to have more opportunities.
00:16:23.840 -->
00:16:25.440It just keeps me going with it.
00:16:25.600 -->
00:16:27.840You know, it just absolutely is my motivation.
00:16:28.000 -->
00:16:34.240The kids see me being 35, going back to school, doing it.
00:16:34.399 -->
00:16:42.960They're like, you can do it, and you're working, and you're so busy, and you know, and so they see me doing it.
00:16:43.039 -->
00:16:46.159They they are my biggest supporters for sure.
00:16:46.639 -->
00:16:47.919That is so awesome.
00:16:48.080 -->
00:16:59.279And really, the kids aren't looking for perfection here, they're just watching your persistence, and that's what really kind of leads the legacy and has an impact on their lives as well.
00:16:59.440 -->
00:17:00.639Wouldn't you agree?
00:17:01.200 -->
00:17:02.799Yeah, absolutely.
00:17:03.200 -->
00:17:05.200Yeah, can I say something?
00:17:06.720 -->
00:17:07.519Absolutely.
00:17:08.400 -->
00:17:11.759Everybody on here, I feel like we all inspire each other.
00:17:11.839 -->
00:17:23.519It's not it's not just us inspiring our kids because sometimes our student advisors and our our advisors and our teachers they take from us as well as we take from them.
00:17:24.079 -->
00:17:26.559We're all learning something at some point.
00:17:26.799 -->
00:17:30.799Sometimes the things we know, sometimes our student advisors don't know.
00:17:30.960 -->
00:17:35.119Sometimes the things we know are our teachers don't know.
00:17:35.279 -->
00:17:36.079You know what I'm saying?
00:17:36.240 -->
00:17:41.680So I feel like it's all a teaching moment for everybody when it comes to teaching.
00:17:43.200 -->
00:18:06.160Uh alright, as we reach sort of the end of the discussion here, um, I'd love it if each of you do you have any other advice for maybe another student who's just starting out, who's in a similar position to you, or even just students who aren't, but maybe you're facing, you know, difficulty managing their time and dealing with whatever's going on in their life.
00:18:06.799 -->
00:18:20.160Well, what I would say about time management, you you have to be able to you have to categorize everything and put a certain amount of time apart for a certain amount of things.
00:18:20.400 -->
00:18:27.680If you know that you want to do your your schoolwork, you say, Okay, I'm gonna put maybe two hours and a half into schoolwork.
00:18:27.839 -->
00:18:34.400And then you say, Okay, I did my schoolwork for those two hours, I'm gonna take a brain break because it's important that you take that brain break.
00:18:35.279 -->
00:18:38.400You take that brain break and then you go back to it.
00:18:38.559 -->
00:18:43.519If you feel like you're comfortable with going back to it, okay, you say, you know what, I got a meeting at this time.
00:18:43.680 -->
00:18:48.079You know you got that meeting, have everything you need for that meeting, so you're not looking for it.
00:18:48.319 -->
00:18:49.680Already have it organized.
00:18:50.079 -->
00:18:51.680How about um Caroline?
00:18:51.759 -->
00:18:59.599What do you, what kind of advice do you have about for another mom who's gonna try to juggle it all and go back to school?
00:19:00.319 -->
00:19:14.880I would just say be very, very honest with each person that you come in contact with at the school, whether it's whether it's your advisor or your teacher or whoever it is.
00:19:15.039 -->
00:19:21.440Um, just be honest with them about how you're feeling, what's going on, where your headspace is at.
00:19:21.920 -->
00:19:29.599Um, because then it's gonna let them in and let them know where you stand and kind of they can't see, you know, you're not with them in person in class.
00:19:29.759 -->
00:19:36.559So it's when you're doing it online, it's very easy to think, oh, this is just another person behind a screen.
00:19:36.640 -->
00:19:38.960You know, it's just another person doing their schoolwork.
00:19:39.119 -->
00:19:43.200But these people have jobs and things happening in their lives.
00:19:43.359 -->
00:19:49.839They have mental health, they have kids, they have all kinds of factors going on in their lives.
00:19:50.160 -->
00:20:00.319So um it's definitely it's it's it's a way to connect, it's a way to feel supported, it's a way to um, you know, when I was, I wanted to quit.
00:20:00.480 -->
00:20:05.599I was talking to Abby and Carol, and I was like, I seriously want to postpone.
00:20:05.680 -->
00:20:06.400I just want to quit.
00:20:06.559 -->
00:20:07.920I just need some time.
00:20:08.160 -->
00:20:10.960Like, I mean, how can how do I pause my schooling?
00:20:11.119 -->
00:20:13.279And they're like, no, you can do it.
00:20:13.440 -->
00:20:14.640I have faith in you.
00:20:14.880 -->
00:20:15.680You can do it.
00:20:15.839 -->
00:20:17.119I promise you can do it.
00:20:17.279 -->
00:20:19.279This is gonna be so good for you.
00:20:19.440 -->
00:20:22.240And that put that helped me push through.
00:20:22.400 -->
00:20:26.400And Abby has been one of those people who has just really, really pushed me through.
00:20:26.480 -->
00:20:28.400She's been, she's texting me all the time.
00:20:28.559 -->
00:20:29.359How are you feeling?
00:20:29.519 -->
00:20:30.079What's going on?
00:20:30.240 -->
00:20:31.599Where's your headspace?
00:20:31.920 -->
00:20:36.960So um really just leaning and just being honest, being self-aware.
00:20:37.200 -->
00:20:39.519I need to take time, being self-aware.
00:20:39.680 -->
00:20:42.000You know, I this is not working.
00:20:42.160 -->
00:20:49.759You know, it's really hard to be like, okay, I I signed up to do externship on these days, but but it's not working for my family.
00:20:49.920 -->
00:20:50.960I need to change it.
00:20:51.119 -->
00:20:59.680You know, plans change and things happen, and it's just about prioritizing, figuring out, okay, what's gonna work out best.
00:20:59.759 -->
00:21:05.680And if that doesn't work out, there's a million other plans that you can you they'll find a way to make it work.
00:21:05.920 -->
00:21:07.440So it's not a big deal.
00:21:07.599 -->
00:21:10.079You know, you're gonna get there when you're gonna get there.
00:21:10.480 -->
00:21:22.000So yeah, just being out being open and honest with everybody, even your externship um person, like just being very open and honest with with everyone.
00:21:22.240 -->
00:21:28.160So Claire Bell, you had mentioned earlier about mom guilt.
00:21:28.559 -->
00:21:33.200Do you want to talk a little bit about that for advice for someone who's a mom?
00:21:33.839 -->
00:21:44.960Basically, my advice would be not to give up, even though like you feel the guilt inside, because I'm still like going to postpartum as well.
00:21:45.680 -->
00:21:52.720So it's really extra hard for me just because I'm not experiencing a lot of first things for him.
00:21:52.880 -->
00:21:58.160Um, and what really motivates me to just keep going is just for myself.
00:21:58.240 -->
00:22:02.400Like, yeah, it's for my son, but honestly, for me too.
00:22:02.559 -->
00:22:09.200Like, I just want something that I have that I had achieved myself as well.
00:22:09.839 -->
00:22:19.279Because in high school, too, um, I did drop out in sophomore year, and I went back in my junior year, but I was technically still a sophomore.
00:22:20.799 -->
00:22:30.799So I had to catch play catch up on that too, and then I was behind still in senior year, and eventually I graduated on time with my class.
00:22:31.039 -->
00:22:38.720So thinking about that and going back to school, it really motivates me because I know I can push myself to finish it.
00:22:40.319 -->
00:22:46.319Plus, I love that you're doing something for your family, your partner, your baby, and you.
00:22:46.880 -->
00:22:47.519Yeah.
00:22:48.000 -->
00:22:53.599So I I just say this like you're gonna feel some type of shame.
00:22:53.759 -->
00:23:07.920And honestly, I feel like some jobs too out there, they're gonna make you feel that guilt too, because they're gonna guilt you into thinking like putting you your baby first is not really the way you're supposed to put your job first.
00:23:08.079 -->
00:23:14.000But there's some bosses out there who understand and they won't guilt trip you.
00:23:14.079 -->
00:23:21.119And if they do, you just really have to be tough-skinned and just make sure like you know what you're doing it for.
00:23:22.160 -->
00:23:22.559Right.
00:23:22.799 -->
00:23:25.039Yeah, like Keita said that same thing.
00:23:25.119 -->
00:23:26.160Like, what's your plan?
00:23:26.240 -->
00:23:31.839You gotta know what your plan is and what you're gonna, what your end goal is, and to help you get there.
00:23:32.559 -->
00:23:36.480Yeah, that's honestly how I push myself through it too.
00:23:36.559 -->
00:23:43.440It's just I just know like at the end, I'm gonna have something there for myself.
00:23:43.599 -->
00:23:48.880Like, I can go anywhere basically with my certification, my license.
00:23:49.039 -->
00:23:56.160I can if I really want to, I can go back to school too, and get my associates as well.
00:23:56.240 -->
00:24:00.400But I honestly don't feel like I'm in that position right now.
00:24:00.799 -->
00:24:10.240You just need one more success, and then one more success, and then your confidence grows, and then the world's your oyster, pretty much, right?
00:24:10.559 -->
00:24:11.200Yes.
00:24:13.359 -->
00:24:17.200That's exactly the message we hoped to share today.
00:24:17.519 -->
00:24:21.359To every student mother listening, you can do this.
00:24:21.680 -->
00:24:27.440You're not behind, you're building something remarkable for yourself and your children.
00:24:28.079 -->
00:24:33.279Your persistence today is the story they will tell tomorrow.
00:24:33.759 -->
00:24:42.400Kita, Corabell, and Caroline, thank you for sharing your honesty, your heart, and to everyone listening.
00:24:42.640 -->
00:24:48.319Keep learning, keep striving, and as always, keep making the leap.
00:24:48.640 -->
00:24:50.240Thank you very much for having us.
00:24:51.440 -->
00:24:52.400Bye-bye.
