EDUCATION
ONLINE STUDENTS’ TIPS TO
BALANCE FAMILY AND SCHOOL
Balancing work, school
and family can be a
challenge. Some days
might feel like more of a
struggle than a juggle, but that
doesn’t mean it’s impossible to
have it all.
In fact, one in four of the 17
million Americans enrolled
as an undergraduate in a
higher education institution
is caring for a child, according
to the National Center
for Education.
Many people in this position
turn to online education to help
make it possible to manage
work, life, family and earning
their degree.
Learning how to
successfully integrate
coursework into an alreadypacked
schedule comes with
practice (and patience!).
It never hurts to receive
advice from those who’ve
been in similar shoes. Here
are three tips from juggling
connoisseurs who have
experience completing their
degrees online while raising
a family:
Have patience and think
about the big picture
Brian Hood juggled
earning a bachelor’s degree in
software engineering online
with Arizona State University
(ASU) while parenting young
triplets. His road to graduation
wasn’t without its fair share
of challenges.
“My desk is in the middle
of my house and opens to
a room that doubles as my
kids’ playroom. To say that I
had challenges while trying
to listen to lectures is an
understatement,” Hood said.
Several times throughout
his academic journey, he hit
roadblocks trying to balance
it all. “It was so frustrating,
and at times, deflating. But
then you take a step back,
look at the situation, and ask
yourself, ‘How do I do this?’
When you tell yourself that
failure isn’t an option, it
becomes much easier to focus
on finding a solution, rather
than being consumed by the
problem,” Hood said.
Hood’s expert tip: With
young kids around, invest in
a good pair of headphones,
and be flexible, patient and
willing to pause and re-watch
your lectures.
Communication is key
For Cherise Shockley, the
key to finding balance was
opening a dialogue with her
family and ensuring everyone
was on the same page about
her online degree program. “If
you are married or have kids,
you have to tell your family
what’s going on. Explain to
them that this will require
a time commitment but, in
the end, it will be worth it,”
Shockley said.
Openness and honesty
go a long way, according to
Shockley, who earned her
mass communication and
media studies degree online
with ASU. “You have to be
organized and know that
there are no shortcuts. If a
problem comes up, make sure
to speak up and ask when you
need help.”
Shockley’s expert tip:
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