Single Moms Go Back to School -- Online
By Cameron Caswell, Posted May 8th 2009 @ 2:34PM
By Craig Howie, for AOL Find a Job
Why would Linda, a busy working mom juggling the multiple challenges of office and home life, think she would be able to complete a four-year college degree on the side?
By Craig Howie, for AOL Find a Job
Linda Guido has been through a lot in life. A single mother raising two teenage kids, she works hard at her job as a supervisor at a Fortune 500 insurance company, managing a team of more than 20. So why would Linda, a busy working mom juggling the multiple challenges of office and home life, think she would be able to complete a four-year college degree on the side?
That decision was a no-brainer, Linda says, and enrolling in an online degree program was the best decision she's ever made. Now, like thousands of other moms increasingly looking to pursue an education online, she studies evenings and weekends when the kids are at softball practice, and hopes to graduate in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in organizational management from an online institution. She says her online studies will help her move up the career ladder, give her greater job security and have given her confidence she never knew she had.
She began her studies in October 2008, taking a five-week class each semester, and this week started her sixth class in an accelerated program. "It's very challenging taking classes online, some might think it's easier or sometimes there's a stigma attached. But no longer is the online experience considered below or underneath anything," she says.
Linda says she was lucky enough to earn a scholarship to complete her online studies through Project Working Mom, an online resources for working moms -- and dads -- launched by eLearners.com last year. She says she was "very very fortunate to receive" the financial award, "but would've gone through financial aid or loans, whatever I had to do" to get her degree.
She says learning online can be challenging. Sometimes, she says, it's easier to be physically present at a lecture or seminar, a luxury she isn't afforded. "It's even more challenging than going to a classroom. In a classroom there are other students around, visual clues. You have to report to class at a certain time. Doing it online, you have to be very disciplined, focused and it's a matter of time management, especially working full time.
"This environment focuses on developing you as a person. Without a group environment, you have to make sure you have reading comprehension. Those are skills I find myself developing, communication and writing skills, because I have to communicate about feelings, about opinions, all through words. I've improved so much.
"I feel like a new person, my confidence is through the roof, it's something I've dreamed of completing for a long time, something I never thought would happen. Now I have a chance to do it it's very exciting. People I know and have met, I tell them what I'm doing and feel I've inspired some other women to do what I'm doing. Some of my kids' friends' parents are thinking about going back to school, too.
"Every evening I do a little bit, every week I have assignments, I work every night and weekends, it's very important to do the best I can."
Her two daughters, ages 14 and 15, are on the school softball team and the high school has a bus that takes them to games, which helps out her schedule a lot. "When they were younger it would have been much more difficult. Grandpa loves picking up the kids. Everybody in the family is so supportive of me. It takes away from my family, and some time away from taking care of my home, but everyone is pitching in and really helping a lot. It's a lot of juggling but my focus is on getting my degree and I'll be on cloud nine. You can really do anything if you really apply yourself."
Linda has a projected graduation date of 2012 if she takes one class a time, but she says she may add an additional course or two to her workload in future. "I still have so much left to learn," she says.
Tracy Shepherd, a busy mother-of-two who studies civil engineering online and works at the Department of Agriculture, and who is also an enrollee at Project Working Moms, says: "I'm pretty fortunate in that my job is giving me time to study, so that's really helpful. My kids are teenagers so I have a little bit of time in the evenings, it's a lot but it all works out if you give it a couple hours every night. I try to get two to three hours at least."
Currently her job involves initiating and developing conservation programs, and she hopes that her studies will help her design new installations and progress in her field. "I haven't had a degree for a long time, in my field I'm topped out [has reached as far as she can go without having a degree]. I'm looking forward to moving on."
Best thing about studying online? "Probably studying at your own pace and you can do it on your time. And if something you're needing help with or understanding you can get hold of someone 24 hours a day. Being able to submit tests online is really great."
Tracy also says that online education is now perceived as being as good as studying at a traditional "bricks and mortar" university. "I looked into online schools a long time ago and they didn't have accreditation or didn't seem legitimate, but now [many are] accredited and recognized and fully legitimate. I would say go for it. There's nothing holding you back and it's a great advantage for your career and your life."
Helen MacDermott, also a working mom taking online courses who is content director for the Project Working Moms initiative, says: "I can personally attest to the obstacles that today's women face when trying to go back to school. My experience with online education has been incredibly positive.
"In ten years of helping working adults find an online program that fits their personal and professional needs we have learned that working moms face the most barriers when trying to go back to school: namely, time, money, and confidence. Project Working Mom seeks to empower women to change their lives – and more importantly, the lives of their children and family – through online education."
It's never too late to increase your opportunities
Learn more at University of Phoenix
Next: MBA Moms >>
See Also:
- 16 Comments
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jim said...
ReplyI lost my job a few months ago, as many of us are now. I was devastated, how was I going to support my family? I read about the eBay Success System in Entrepreneur magazine and they even had a link ( http://cli.gs/HomeBizSuccessSystem ) to get a free kit explaining how to make money that way. I found out that over 720,000 Americans are making a living on EBAY right now. I am one of them now. Now you can do that too. I can tell you that I'm already making as much money as I did on my job and I'm working less time than I used to spend commuting. Beat the economic depression and get your free kit today http://cli.gs/HomeBizSuccessSystem
Emma said...
I'm a single mother with three kids, and I was not pulling in enough income to support us. Now all that has changed. I am now making more money than I have ever dreamed. I've seen articles from other companies promising success in internet businesses before, and I tried some of them because I had nothing to lose. But, they never came close to the success Google ( http://cli.gs/MakeMoneyOnGoogle ) have given me. It took me from a $24,000 yearly income job to making over $150,000 within 9 months. Money is coming in my google account everyday and I am loving it.
Replystephanie said...
Hello, I am a single mome as well raising my children and only had my GED education and of course, most of the jobs today require at least an Associates degree I chose Univeristy of Phoenix online to keep my job and keep my life and I LOVE IT now in a Bachelors degree and I also work with the University of Phoenix. Here is a link to the cite: www.phoenix.edu/corp/vstaylor
See how you too can earn your degree.
alex said...
I was a manager of a Circuit City store. I was making over $70K a year but they let me go last Fall. In retrospect they did me a favor. I got a couple of months severance pay so I wasn't pressured to just grab any job so I used the time I had to find something new and different. I had read many books by Robert Allen and decided to check out a program that he had available. It was a way to develop multiple streams of income, http://cli.gs/RobertAllenIncomeStreams . I have to say that he knows his stuff and has excellent ideas and training. I am now making a little more money than I was before and see that my businesses should continue to grow. Best of all, I'm working 20 less hours a week, when I was putting in close to 60 before. I'm able to play ball, have a hobby, and best of all, spend so much more time with my children.
ReplyJan said...
The rules have changed. If you're looking for a great job, with a great company, with great benefits, that you will have your entire life, until you retire, stop looking. That was then this is now. That job doesn't exist anymore for 99% of us. Unless you have unique and remarkable skills you better figure out what will work best for you and your family. I am a former executive who left the corporate world to help people adjust to the new realities. My suggestion to most is to do what millions of people are doing now, find a good home business. That won't work for everyone but if you find one that you can get into for virtually no investment and learn the right skills, you should do well.
ReplyThere are two opportunities that my clients have had the most success with. One is an amazing opportunity to profit from Ebay and there are well over 720,000 people making a full time living with them. http://cli.gs/HomeBizSuccessSystem That's a huge company to work with. The other great opportunity is working with an amazing program from Robert Allen http://bit.ly/RobertAllenIncomeStreams , a true genius, who shows you how to create multiple streams of income from home. The results have been spectacular
So many of my clients tell me that they are loving working for themselves, making more money than before, in less time, and enjoy the extra time they have to spend with their families
janscolofsky said...
We all see what is happening to our economy but there is at least one bright spot. Pet care is a $43 billion industry and it is pretty much recession proof. There are two home based businesses that you can have the opportunity to be part of and both are extremely profitable and neither requires any significant investment. If you think you might want to combine your love for animals with a great business, like I have, I recommend http://cli.gs/HealthyPetBiz and http://cli.gs/PetCareBiz You can make a great full time living from either one or just work a few hours a week for an incredible part time income.
Replyjasonma561 said...
I found a great dating site_____Millionaireromances.com_____. .where you have the opportunity dreaming about dating a millionaire and make it true! u dont have to be a millionaire.but u can meet one. I thought everyone needed to meet some miracle after all the terrible stuff in the news and the economy .--------------------------------------------
ReplyDaisy said...
Um, not a word about the article--just free advertisements. Its nothing but oBUMa propaganda any way. Just as well all there is to read in the comment section are advertisements.
Replymiah said...
first of, don't make babies without a husband or pick a good one, in case you divorce, because you will need his financial assistance. So i don't feel sorry for single moms. if you married the wrong man, shame on you! you just wanted your "princess day" so you had your wedding, and cake and you ate it too. now it's time to deal. I know of someone who got dumped by her man, for being a cold fish after a few years of marriage. she went back to college, and yes, on-line, and got her doctorate in sports medicine. who on earth would trust a doctor who got her degree on-line? All i hear from people is that nobody takes anybody who takes on-line courses seriously. it is called fake colleges and fake degrees. If you are serious about your education, you get your fat ass to school.
ReplyKatie said...
Clearly you have never been to college, or even finished high school for that matter, based on your poor punctuation, grammar and spelling. Not to mention, your response is completely irrelevant to the topic! Judging by your ignorance and hostility, you are single and alone in this world. Taking classes online takes more self discipline than any other means of earning an education. Why don't you spend a little more time educating yourself instead of playing on the internet, and bashing people who are going above and beyond to better themselves! Life happens and being a single mom is what it is. You will probably never know that because I can’t imagine anyone wanting to father children with someone like you.
Linda'sMom said...
What an asinine statement that a woman who finds herself suddenly a single mom is somehow at fault. Are we also at fault when our husbands die?Nice attitude you have mister. You try be both mother and father and bring down the paycheck, do all the housework, take care of your kids and struggle every day to survive.
I started online college in 2004 and it was a great way to earn a degree when I had time.
BTW, your lack of human kindness does you no favors and may be your undoing someday. Princess day! Whata load of nonsense!
ginny said...
Your comments are not only harsh, but also quite ignorant! I am a stay at home mom that attends college! I worked many years prior to children. Many traditional colleges offer online courses. I take both traditional and online courses. It seems to me the only joke here is your attitude!
Katie said...
Clearly you have never been to college, or even finished high school
Replyfor that matter, based on your poor punctuation, grammar and
spelling. Not to mention, your response is completely irrelevant to
the topic! Judging by your ignorance and hostility, you are single
and alone in this world. Taking classes online takes more self
discipline than any other means of earning an education. Why don't
you spend a little more time educating yourself instead of playing on
the internet, and bashing people who are going above and beyond to
better themselves! Life happens and being a single mom is what it is.
You will probably never know that because I can’t imagine anyone
wanting to father children with someone like you.
cnokes007 said...
I read the article about the lady going back to school. I too just also enrolled in online classes and I agree it has been at times challedging but it also has help me grow I'm actually learning that's more than I did in my Middle and High school.I'm taking Healthcare Administration right now I have two classes in my eight week, Thanking God for this opportunity
Replystephanie said...
I too was a single parent trying to always get that job that paid the most, however due to the lack of college experience that I had my resume was getting left out. I had only a GED so I begin to look online to continue work and taking care of my familyl. I signed up with the University of Phoenix online and WOW did it change my life, my confidence and my resume. I truly believe in myself today. I started work at the University of Phoenix now I am a grandma (40). Know I am half way through my Bachelor's degree and who knows looking at what Master's I will do next just to keep me marketable within my workplace. Here is a link to check out the classes offered and see if you can change your Resume www.phoenix.edu/corp/vstaylor
ReplyKeri Garrison said...
I am happily married with a 2yr old daugther, whom I am home with all the time, and I enrolled in my online classes before I lost my job last August. I am truly enjoying the people that I am in class with. Taking online classes is not easy because there is no one to immediatly answer your questions and you really have to budget your time.
ReplyI am getting my degree in accounting and the the university, which is a local one, does not offer the curriculum in a classroom setting. There are some classes that I plan to take in the classroom but I am doing just fine online.
To anyone else that is considering an online degree program, I offer this advice. Make sure you research various colleges and universities. There are a lot of them out there at offer online degrees. I was suprised by some of them. Budget your time well and have a strong support system and you will do just fine.