Spring Break
Column: Not your typical student
Rachel Eversole/Columnist
Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: Opinions
Contrary to popular belief, not all college students are party animals.
Many are full-time students who take their college career seriously. Some are full-time students with part-time jobs, and some are part-time students with full-time jobs, both of which do not leave much time for weekend (or weekday) bashes.
But then there are those like me: full-time students and full-time parents, whose parties generally have a theme such as Dora the Explorer or Sesame Street. We student-parents have much on our plates and accomplish a great deal on a daily basis. Yet many do not announce their parent status, choosing to hide their true identities.
We seem to be looked down upon by a larger student body, mainly because we are one of the many atypical student groups. College is the common ground that we all share, but we do not all take the same path. Get a degree, find that special someone during or after college, have a great career, start a family - this seems to be the classic plan many follow.
But I took all these steps out of order, according to the social norm. I went to college and met my significant other. And then my path changed: we had a baby. So I left college to stay at home with my daughter.
I re-enrolled at Eastern after a year and a half, excited about continuing my academic studies. But I quickly realized I was now seen as different.
In one of my first courses at Eastern, I informed the class I was a mom. I immediately became isolated from the rest of the group; not a soul would strike up a conversation or debate in open discussion with me. From that moment on, I learned to keep my college life and my personal life separate. James Bond aside, it's not easy or cool being a secret agent.
Other people in my position have been brave enough to look their peers in the eye and tell them all about their lives. That's great, and I wish them all the best.
For others like me, the Eastern Student Parent Association is a great way to meet other student-parents on campus and to help gain perspective on what it means to be both parents and students. Though I am not involved, I have friends who, while they do not have children, want to help out the college and community by volunteering and offering support.
If other "typical" college students were a little more understanding like my friends, people like me wouldn't have to hide our identities. I would love to be more open about who I am and be able to tell group members why I can't do many functions at night.
It doesn't matter if you have been out of school a few months or thirty years. We are all entitled to an education, to be treated fairly and to be who we really are without fear or consequence. But until people can truly respect others for who they are, many will continue to feel like they're leading double lives.
Rachel Eversole is a senior English major. She can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
Many are full-time students who take their college career seriously. Some are full-time students with part-time jobs, and some are part-time students with full-time jobs, both of which do not leave much time for weekend (or weekday) bashes.
But then there are those like me: full-time students and full-time parents, whose parties generally have a theme such as Dora the Explorer or Sesame Street. We student-parents have much on our plates and accomplish a great deal on a daily basis. Yet many do not announce their parent status, choosing to hide their true identities.
We seem to be looked down upon by a larger student body, mainly because we are one of the many atypical student groups. College is the common ground that we all share, but we do not all take the same path. Get a degree, find that special someone during or after college, have a great career, start a family - this seems to be the classic plan many follow.
But I took all these steps out of order, according to the social norm. I went to college and met my significant other. And then my path changed: we had a baby. So I left college to stay at home with my daughter.
I re-enrolled at Eastern after a year and a half, excited about continuing my academic studies. But I quickly realized I was now seen as different.
In one of my first courses at Eastern, I informed the class I was a mom. I immediately became isolated from the rest of the group; not a soul would strike up a conversation or debate in open discussion with me. From that moment on, I learned to keep my college life and my personal life separate. James Bond aside, it's not easy or cool being a secret agent.
Other people in my position have been brave enough to look their peers in the eye and tell them all about their lives. That's great, and I wish them all the best.
For others like me, the Eastern Student Parent Association is a great way to meet other student-parents on campus and to help gain perspective on what it means to be both parents and students. Though I am not involved, I have friends who, while they do not have children, want to help out the college and community by volunteering and offering support.
If other "typical" college students were a little more understanding like my friends, people like me wouldn't have to hide our identities. I would love to be more open about who I am and be able to tell group members why I can't do many functions at night.
It doesn't matter if you have been out of school a few months or thirty years. We are all entitled to an education, to be treated fairly and to be who we really are without fear or consequence. But until people can truly respect others for who they are, many will continue to feel like they're leading double lives.
Rachel Eversole is a senior English major. She can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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