My Biggest Reason to Keep Going
Eliesha Padilla | Guest Writer
I became a mom at 18, and now, at 21, I am raising a 2-year-old while continuing my education and trying to build a better future for both of us.
One of the hardest parts is feeling pulled between being a good mom and being a good student. Sometimes when I am working on an assignment, my daughter is beside me, asking me to play or wanting my attention. I know she needs me, but I also have schoolwork to finish.
In those moments, I can feel guilty no matter what I choose.
Some days are overwhelming. There is so much I need to do, so much I want to achieve, and only one of me. I am learning, though, that balance does not always mean doing everything perfectly.
Sometimes I wait until she falls asleep to finish an assignment. Other times, I close my laptop and spend time with her, knowing I can come back to the work later.
Many students are balancing school with jobs, children, family responsibilities, stress, and struggles others may not see. Our situations may be different, but many of us understand what it feels like to have more responsibilities than time and still keep showing up.
I hope my daughter grows up knowing that becoming a mom young did not mean giving up on my goals.
She was never the reason I stopped chasing them. She became one of the biggest reasons I kept going.
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